Health department explains COVID-19 testing process

BECKLEY, WV (WOAY) – The Raleigh County Health Department hosted another COVID-19 testing site today.

The health department tested patients at it’s Harper Road location from 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesday morning.

While most people are more concerned about results than the test itself, patients may be nervous upon arrival. WOAY found out what patients can expect when being tested.

“They’ll get a number on the front of their car and as they pull around they’re assigned a certain place to park,” said Candace Hurd, director of nursing and administrator. “We actually collect a nasal pharyngeal swab…put it in viral transport media, and then we transport that down to the office of laboratory services.”

The health department asks that you call ahead before showing up for a test.

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Kassie Simmons
Kassie Simmons joined the team in January 2019 as a weekend journalist. She graduated from Virginia Tech in just two and a half years with a BA in multimedia journalism. During her short time at Virginia Tech, she served as the editor for the university’s chapter of The Tab. Kassie was named the top reporter for The Tab at Virginia Tech on multiple occasions and made the list for the top 30 reporters for The Tab in the U.S. She also studied theater performance and minored in creative writing. Before coming to WOAY, Kassie interned at WSLS in Roanoke and the Tidewater Review in her hometown of West Point, Va. She has loved following breaking news since her childhood and has a passion for delivering the stories people care most about. Kassie is excited to be working in Southern West Virginia and looks forward to all the adventures ahead of her. You can follow her on Twitter at @KassieLSimmons and like her page on Facebook. If you have a story you think she should check out, send her an email at ksimmons@woay.com.