Former Tri City Ledger managing editor Janet Cooper decided to get tested for COVID-19 in Brewton Wednesday morning, and before the Main Street Urgent Care in Brewton had opened it's doors, the first person was in line at 3:30 a.m.
According to Cooper, the early arriver was there to get tested because someone tested positive at her job so all the employees are being tested. Cooper said by 4 a.m., there were four people there waiting.
“We got here at 5:45 his morning and there were around 12 or 13 people waiting,” said Cooper. “By 6 a.m., there were 15 people, and by 7 a.m., 42 people were waiting for the doors to open, with more arriving.”
Cooper said she was told they are only testing 40 people a day. They had to turn people away, including a construction crew of five people.
“An Atmore couple is here hoping for negative results so they can see their first grandchild, born three weeks ago,” said Cooper. “Another person in line is a first time grandma who wants to get tested just to give her daughter peace of mind with her 2-week-old baby.”
Cooper said they are taking 10 people in at a time and the results for each test are back in 15 to 20 minutes.
According to Urgent Care's Megan Proctor, the test is free for anyone who has insurance and provides an insurance card. Proctor said for those who do not have insurance, there is a government program that will pay the $125 for the test.
“After 4 p.m., we cannot take any more patients for COVID-19 testing,” said Proctor. “Before that time, if we have not administered the maximum 40 tests and we have time between seeing other patients not here for testing, we will call people on a waiting list that day until we reach 40. Again, it depends on if we have time.”
The clinic is located at 2134 Douglas Avenue in Brewton and is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. For more information, contact 251-236-4026.
