Oakland County Expands Free Drive-Thru Coronavirus Testing

OAKLAND COUNTY, MI — Oakland County will expand its free drive-thru testing for the coronavirus so that it includes school-age children beginning Monday, county officials announced this week.

Children must be between 4 and 17 years old, have symptoms of the coronavirus and be residents of or attend school in Oakland County, officials said. Testing is available weekdays by appointment only.

“As the school year begins, we are here to support schools, teachers and families, learning in-person or remotely,” Oakland County Executive David Coulter said. “The availability of testing for symptomatic children is important to isolating and controlling the spread of this disease in our schools and community.”

Don't miss important updates from health and government officials on the impact of the coronavirus in Michigan. Sign up for Patch's daily newsletters and email alerts.

Parents can begin scheduling an appointment for their symptomatic children Thursday through the Oakland County Health Division’s Nurse on Call hotline at 800-848-5533. No doctor’s note or prescription is needed plus there is no fee, officials said.

“COVID-19 symptoms are milder in children than in adults, and some infected children may not have obvious signs of being sick,” Oakland County Medical Director Dr. Russell Faust said. “It is very important that parents and guardians trust their instincts and be overly cautious of all health and behavior changes, and keep their child home from school and contact their pediatrician, family care practitioner or our Nurse on Call if their child is even mildly ill.”

Oakland County health officials said they are encouraging all residents to monitor their health symptoms carefully, including daily temperature checks and to stay home when feeling mildly sick, or if feeling the onset of symptoms.

Read More: 5 Oakland County Manufacturers To Share $219K To Make PPE

The Health Division offers drive-thru testing on Mondays and Wednesdays at the South Oakland Health Center, 27725 Greenfield Road in Southfield; Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Oakland County government campus, 1200 N. Telegraph Road in Pontiac; and on Fridays at Oakland Community College, Orchard Ridge Campus at 28696 Oakland, Farmington Hills.