As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise in Texas, the National Guard is spreading out across the state with mobile testing sites.
On Friday, they were in Bell and McLennan counties testing people who think they might be sick.
"Our medics are using all kinds of precautions to make sure we don’t cross contaminate anything. Really the only thing touching the patient is the swab itself. It is uncomfortable and can be painful, but we are really quick at it, " Texas National Guard Major Lisa Kott-Harrington said.
In Bell County the Texas National Guard set up tents in Rogers and Troy. In McLennan county they were in Waco and Bellmead. The McLennan County Emergency Management team says one of their major priorities was to expand testing capacity.
"We have set up a mobile testing center to get testing to the county population who may not have testing that some of the city might have," Ryan Diker, Assistant McLennan County Emergency Management Coordinator, said.
Governor Greg Abbott deployed more than 12,000 national guard members as part of the mobile testing teams. The teams include 11 medical professionals and support staff, as well as 34 soldiers.
Tests performed at the sites are sent to Austin. It takes between two and four days to get results.
"We're just here to do what the governor needs us to do to expand testing capabilities and help open the state as is his intent," Kott-Harrington said.
If you still want to get tested, you can find the nearest testing site here.
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