MEMPHIS, Tenn. — People lined up outside Christ Community Health Services in Hickory Hill on Wednesday to get tested for coronavirus.
The key distinction with this COVID-19 testing event was that anyone could come get tested. You didn’t have to show symptoms. In fact, you didn’t have to make an appointment or get out of your car.
A lot of people took advantage of the opportunity. People were even lining up at least an hour before testing began at 2 p.m.
Some people who didn’t have symptoms said they still wanted to get tested.
“It hurt,” Jason Livingston said, “They put it (swab) up both nostrils. It just hurt real bad, but it’s a good thing. It don’t last a long time—about 15 to 20 seconds.”
“Doing it for my family to keep them safe and make sure I’m safe,” George Lewis said.
Typically, only select groups of asymptomatic people can get tested, including front line workers like first responders or grocery store employees.
Dr. Manoj Jain is an infectious disease expert and member of the Shelby County COVID-19 Task Force. He’s eager to see as many asymptomatic people get tested as possible as soon as more resources are available.
“When you have symptoms it’s great. We know that you have an infection like when you have the flu and then you stay at home. When you don’t have any symptoms you don’t realize that you’re spreading the virus to other people,” Dr. Jain said, “One of the hardest things for us as epidemiologists and as health people in dealing with COVID-19 is that asymptomatic spread.”
Christ Community Health is planning another testing event like this one in the coming days. It may be at the Hickory Hill location again.
