The Hamilton County Health Department has conducted about 80,000 COVID-19 tests since the virus first appeared in the county six months ago, according to data provided by the department.
On Tuesday, leaders from the health department and other community groups provided tours of the Alstom testing site for members of the media to show the process from intake to the swab station to community support through the Chattanooga Area Food Bank.
Sabrina Novak, director of administrative services at the department, said the collaboration between the health department, the National Guard and community groups make the testing process possible. A COVID-19 test at the Alstom site takes around 10 minutes, and most people receive their results within a day, health department leaders said.
“What’s remained constant is the dedication of health department employees to go above and beyond to provide what is needed during this pandemic,” Novak said.
Since the beginning of August, COVID-19 testing in Hamilton County has been housed at the Alstom site on Riverfront Parkway. The health department previously moved its testing site from the emissions testing center to various Hamilton County school buildings to various local churches.