Free drive-through COVID-19 testing at BCHS today

The Tennessee National Guard will host a drive-through COVID-19 testing site in Bledsoe County on Saturday, April 25. The testing event will take place from 9:00 a.m. through 1:00 p.m. at Bledsoe County High School, 877 Main Street, Pikeville. 

Mayor Ridley said he encourages everyone who would like to be tested to show up. 

“It takes five minutes, and they are testing everyone, with no restrictions,” he said. “This could help us get back to some kind of normal in Bledsoe County.”

The Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) Southeast Region office in Chattanooga advises that health departments in Bradley, Franklin, Grundy, McMinn, Rhea, and Sequatchie have drive-thru testing available from 9:00 a.m. to noon local time Monday through Friday. A map of testing sites can be found by clicking here.

Residents in Bledsoe, Marion, Meigs and Polk counties should call their local health department during regular business hours for assistance in getting tested. The Bledsoe County Health Department can be reached at (423) 447-2149.

Regional Director Glenn Czarnecki said the TDH is no longer assessing residents for certain symptoms and is instead encouraging all to be tested. 

“We are no longer assessing residents for certain symptoms, instead, we are encouraging all residents to be tested so that we can learn the burden of disease in our communities and have a stronger sense of when we can safely lift some of the restrictions that are currently in place,” Czarnecki said.

For more, see thebledsonian-banner.com and the April 23 issue of The Bledsonian-Banner.