A Nevada National Guardsman helps with traffic control at the COVID-19 drive-thu testing site at the Orleans Friday, May 8, 2020. The testing site, a collaboration of University Medical Center and Clark County, is open to the public by appointment.
Monday, May 11, 2020 | 6:30 p.m.
The drive-thru coronavirus testing site at the Orleans will once again expand its capacity after Clark County and University Medical Center added Clinical Pathology Laboratories as a partner in the effort.
Starting Wednesday, the site will offer 1,000 tests per day, seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Its initial capacity was 300 tests per day. Testing is by appointment only and remains free to those who are uninsured. Appointments can be made at umcsn.com or by calling CPL at 702-795-4932.
Patients don’t need to exhibit symptoms to get tested.
“UMC and our community partners have done an incredible job launching this drive-thru testing operation and working to expand its capacity to schedule and test more people every day,” said Clark County Commissioner Lawrence Weekly, also chairman of the UMC board of trustees. “The ability to offer communitywide testing for those with and without COVID-19 symptoms is the key to keeping our community safe as we move forward with opening our economy.”
Tests are conducted on the first floor of the Orleans parking garage, 4500 W. Tropicana Ave. Upon arrival, patients are checked in and directed to the drive-up testing station. Medical professionals conduct the tests while patients stay in their cars.
Results are available within 24 to 48 hours and are reported to the Southern Nevada Health District.
More than 3,300 people have been tested at the site since it was launched on May 5.
“The drive-thru site at the Orleans is an important model for our community because it is the first to offer testing regardless of whether or not residents have symptoms,” said Clark County Commissioner Michael Naft, whose district includes the Orleans. “We will continue to work on expanding our testing capacity throughout Clark County. The data gathered by widespread testing will be critical in our efforts to open our economy safely as we move forward.”
