North Texas News

BRIDGEPORT – Wise County and surrounding area residents age 2 and older can be tested for COVID-19 at a drive-thru testing site located at Bridgeport Hospital.

Wise Health System is offering the drive-thru testing by appointment at the hospital located at 1905 Doctor’s Hospital Drive according to Wise Health System’s Facebook page. People must call 940-600-4969 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday for a free screening to determine eligibility for testing.

Front line health providers, law enforcement or EMS employees who have been exposed to COVID-19 or who feel ill automatically meet testing criteria. Others who meet testing guidelines are people who are sick with fever, cough, shortness of breath or diarrhea; people who have underlying, chronic medical conditions; those who have had close contact with a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patient; and people who traveled internationally or traveled to areas that have widespread COVID-19 cases.

As of April 17, Texas reported 17,371 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, including 428 deaths. Wise County has eight confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Wise Health System representatives will collect insurance information when scheduling the appointment. The cost of $51.31 either will be billed to insurance for people who have insurance or directly to the patient if he or she doesn’t have insurance. All insurance companies indicate there will be no patient portion for COVID-19 testing.

Wise Health System released a flyer April 9 answering frequently asked questions about COVID-19, including an explanation of why test results take a long time, according to Wise Health System’s Facebook page.

“To expand testing capabilities, Wise Health System contracted with GenetWorx to provide Drive-Thru testing at our Bridgeport facility,” the flyer said. “They are able to provide needed test supplies with an approximately 48 hour turnaround after test results are received (currently being sent by FedEx). With the successful launch of drive-thru testing, Wise Health System extended the contract to begin testing inpatients as well."

The number of those waiting for results will continue to fluctuate as more patients are tested.