Custer to get free testing

The S.D. Department of Health, in partnership with the S.D. National Guard and Office of Emergency Management and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will provide drive-through COVID-19 testing in 10 South Dakota communities over the next two weeks. Custer is among those selected.

These events are open to the public and testing will come at no charge to the individual receiving the test. Testing locations are drive-through and by appointment only. Testing follows Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines to determine eligibility. Currently eligible:

• Healthcare workers and first responders.

• Individuals with symptoms.

• Other individuals without symptoms, in accordance with state and local plans and for public health monitoring.

The list of dates and times when testing will be available is posted on the State COVID-19 website covid.sd.gov/testing.aspx.

Register by going to DoINeedaCOVID19test.com. 

 

After registering, individuals will receive an appointment and a test voucher that must be printed and brought to the testing site. People without appointments will be tested only if time slots are not full.

Testing locations will use a self-administered nasal swab for specimen collection that allows individuals to swab their own nose, supervised by trained medical staff. Results are delivered within three to five business days. Individuals being tested will receive an email notification when results are available and can log on to the website to view and print laboratory results.