Screening for COVID-19 is available in Livingston, Alabama, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 am to noon while supplies last. The University of Alabama’s University Medical Center and Office for Research and Economic Development, as well as Alabama Power and Livingston Mayor Tom Tartt, are collaborating to provide the screenings.
The screening program started April 16 at the Jaycee Park in Livingston, located in Alabama’s Black Belt. During the three-hour period, 69 people were screened for COVID-19 and 27 people were tested for the virus.
“Providing screenings in the Black Belt region is important because there is limited access to health care in these communities,” said Dr. Richard Friend, dean of UA’s College of Community Health Sciences, which operates UMC. “The numbers that we’ve seen demonstrate a low level of testing in these areas, so it is critical that we get resources to residents.”
At the time of the screening, there were 31 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Sumter County, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health.
Attempts will be made to screen everyone who comes. The screening process includes questions about symptoms being experienced, such as coughing, fever and shortness of breath. Temperatures will be taken if people report fever.
Only those meeting Alabama Department of Public Health guidelines will be tested for COVID-19 because there are a limited number of tests. Test specimens will be sent to LabCorp in Tuscaloosa for evaluation.
People do not need to have health insurance to be screened and tested, but for those who do have insurance, that information will be collected.
“We hope to expand into other communities as more testing becomes available,” Friend said.
Screening and testing will be conducted by nurses and physicians from UMC and CCHS, and the University’s Mobile Outreach Unit will be used in the screening initiative.
“We greatly appreciate the partnership with The University of Alabama and Alabama Power to provide COVID-19 screenings to our community,” Tartt said. “The well-being and safety of our residents is our top priority and it is critical that we have access to these resources. Because of partnerships like this, we will get through these tough times and continue to meet the needs of our residents.”