Updated on Monday, Sept. 13, 2021.
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
Drive-through COVID testing by the Louisiana National Guard has resumed at Mahalia Jackson. Testing is free, no appointment needed. 1419 Basin St. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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.
LCMC Health’s Lakeview urgent care has reopened and is providing COVID tests. Check in via their website. The test itself should be free, but the appointment itself may cost money if you don’t have insurance. 826 Harrison Ave, Suite A. 8 a.m. to 6. p.m. Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Rapid Tests
According to an email sent Tuesday morning by a New Orleans Health Department spokesperson, free, walk-up rapid testing is also available at the Central City Senior Center cooling center. 2101 Phillip St, New Orleans, LA 70113. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
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. Seven days a week, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.*
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
COVID testing at Delgado’s Navarre campus is scheduled to resume next week. So is testing through the New Orleans Musician’s clinic. See scheduling details at ready.nola.gov/coronavirus/testing.
*Correction: An earlier version of this story listed the normal operating hours for Ochsner’s Mid-City clinic, rather than its adjusted post-Ida schedule.