In the wake of Hurricane Ida and the resulting blackouts, many New Orleans-area healthcare providers are operating only limited services or are temporarily closed. But the risk of COVID-19 outbreaks remains high, public officials and health experts have warned.
Dr. Sen Pei, who does COVID transmission modeling at Columbia University, told The Lens on Saturday that “the most important thing is to test.” Knowing if you have COVID will help prevent further outbreaks as people across the region gather to obtain necessary supplies, cool off, and move into temporary shelters.
COVID testing appears to be available in at least some state-run shelters, based on a report The Lens received from one person who took advantage of a post-storm evacuation program on Saturday. The Lens has requested additional details from the state.
Locally, here’s what’s available, and closed, in and around New Orleans. We will update the list periodically as options reopen.
PCR Tests
On Friday, Ochsner Health resumed drive-through COVID PCR testing at its Center for Primary Care and Wellness on Jefferson Highway. Details on cost weren’t immediately available. The center is closed on Sundays and some holidays, including Labor Day. No appointment needed. 1401 Jefferson Highway. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are also available at the site.
Rapid Tests
Ochsner’s Mid-City Urgent Care has rapid tests available, per an Ochsner spokesperson. Details on cost weren’t immediately available. No appointment needed. 4100 Canal St.. 8 a.m to 7:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Open Labor Day.
In and Out Urgent Care has antigen tests. Cost is $200 without insurance. No appointment needed. 6225 S Claiborne, New Orleans, LA 70125. 9 a.m to 5 p.m.. Open Labor Day.
Currently Closed
As of Sunday, LCMC is not conducting COVID testing at any of its facilities.
A spokesperson for LCMC said that the system didn’t have a timeline on when testing will resume. “But things are moving fast, so we could soon.”
The city of New Orleans does not have tests available at its resource centers either, although a spokesperson said that the city was working on sourcing tests. The challenge, she said, was refrigeration for those supplies. City and Louisiana National Guard-run testing sites at UNO Lakefront and Mahalia Jackson are also closed.
The Urgent Care clinic at 231 N. Carrollton Ave. did not pick up the phone, and its website says that it is closed.
All Baptist Community Health Services locations were closed as of Sunday, according to the BCHS website.
DePaul Community Health Center’s COVID testing is also currently closed. According to their triage line — 504-207-3060 — centers won’t reopen until Sept. 13.
The Walgreens at 4400 S Claiborne Ave, which had previously been providing PCR tests, is also closed.
Healthcare providers offering COVID testing, to be added to this list, please email [email protected] and provide your hours, address, what types of tests you offer and any other relevant information.
