Michigan Begins Pilot Covid Testing Program in High Travel Areas

Michigan is going all out, to get not only as many of the state's residents vaccinated as possible, but also, with infections spiking recently, offering free Covid testing in areas where there are high volumes of travelers.

To that end, the State of Michigan is starting a pilot program that the State says will offer "quick and cost-free testing will be offered at several Michigan Welcome Centers and airports throughout the state, with results available in as little as 15 minutes...Insurance is not required, and results can be obtained via text, email or uploaded to the traveler’s patient portal."

“We are excited to provide space at our select Welcome Centers for immediate COVID-19 testing. Our Welcome Centers are a gateway to thousands of travelers coming into the state each day, making them ideal locations to help prevent the spread of this horrible virus. Just look out for the COVID testing signs before the appropriate centers along the freeways.” - Michigan State Transportation Director Paul C. Ajegba, in a release.

The state has several Welcome Centers currently open, on US 23 in Dundee/Petersburg. at Coldwater, at Monroe, and at Clare. On of the busiest sites will open on Monday, April 27th, at New Buffalo on I-94. Meanwhile, currently, the only airport to offer free testing is Cherry Capitol Airport in Traverse City, which has been up and running since early in April.

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On the vaccination front, while Kalamazoo County numbers are pretty good, the number of vaccinated people in Calhoun County is lagging. The two pronged approached through testing and vaccination, officials hope, will bring the number of infections down again, to where they were before the current variant spike started in March.

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While much is still unknown about the coronavirus and the future, what is known is that the currently available vaccines have gone through all three trial phases and are safe and effective. It will be necessary for as many Americans as possible to be vaccinated in order to finally return to some level of pre-pandemic normalcy, and hopefully these 30 answers provided here will help readers get vaccinated as soon they are able.

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Filed Under: State of Michigan

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