NEWS

In partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Louisiana Department of Health, and the Louisiana National Guard, Louisiana Tech University will provide free COVID-19 testing for students, faculty, staff and members of the Ruston community beginning Monday in the Argent Pavilion.

“Thanks to collaborative efforts with state and local leadership, including Gov. John Bel Edwards, we’re able to offer testing that will focus on determining if asymptomatic individuals in our area are positive for COVID-19,” said Dr. Les Guice, Louisiana Tech president. “This is the latest tool we have to help keep our community members safe and healthy, and we anticipate testing will help us control the spread of the virus through knowledge and proactive quarantining when necessary. I encourage everyone to take advantage of this opportunity to help mitigate and slow the spread of COVID-19.”

Walk-up and drive-through testing will be conducted from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday for two weeks. Testing may continue beyond that point depending on the number of tests administered.

Individuals who want to be tested can pre-register online at DoINeedACovid19Test.com. Registration is not required for testing but it will speed up the testing process. Advance registration for the Ruston testing should be available this weekend.

Testing will be conducted by a self-administered, non-invasive nasal swab. Results will be available three to five days after the test is administered.

To enter the testing site at Argent Pavilion, approach the pavilion from Alabama Avenue and Bulldog Drive near Hideaway Park. The pavilion is located between the Thomas Assembly Center and Joe Aillet Stadium.