Premier Medical Group Hawaii will conduct two drive-thru testing operations on Oahu this week in Waianae and Waipahu.
On Thursday, people may head to the Waianae Boat Harbor lot at 85-471 Farrington Highway from 9 a.m. to noon to get swabbed for the coronavirus.
On Saturday, testing will be held at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Complex at 93-061 Waipio Point Access Road from 8 a.m. to noon.
Patients will first be screened for symptoms and asked to provide personal information and contact numbers.
Dr. Scott Miscovich of Premier Medical has led similar programs on Oahu, the Big Island and Molokai.
Miscovich co-founded the Hawaii Homeless Healthcare Hui (H4) with Lt. Gov. Josh Green, both of whom have publicly called for more widespread COVID-19 testing.Â
Results may take longer than 10 days, depending on local laboratory capabilities. Two private laboratories — Clinical Labs of Hawaii and Diagnostic Laboratory Services — have conducted the majority of coronavirus tests in the islands, but still rely on mainland sister laboratories to process specimens.
Mayor Kirk Caldwell said the tests will help identify “hot spots” of coronavirus clusters.
“I want to tell the public where these clusters are so individuals can be more cautious in their communities,” Caldwell said in a statement.
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Eleni Avendaño, who covers public health issues, is a corps member with , a national nonprofit organization that places journalists in local newsrooms. Her health care coverage is also supported by , , and . You can reach her by email at egill@civilbeat.org or follow her on Twitter at .