DALLAS (1080 KRLD)- Dallas County has opened two additional COVID testing sites in expectation of more demand after Christmas and New Year's parties. A testing location at Ellis Davis Field House opened Wednesday; testing began at Samuell Grand Aquatics Center Thursday.
Thursday afternoon, a line of cars wrapped around the parking lot of the field house with police directing traffic. One man said he brought his tablet and phone so he could stay connected with his office.
"I'm kind of trying to hope I might get a little work done in the car, but it's kind of tough," he said.
Another man said he was expecting lines, so he bought lunch on his way and was eating in the car while he waited.
"It'll be a long wait, but I've been looking at the line here and it looks like it's been moving better than the other lines, so I decided I'd just pick up something while I'm waiting," he said.
Reservations are encouraged but not required at Ellis Davis Field House. People can sign up HERE. The testing site is open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Reservations are required for another site that opened Thursday at Samuell Grand Park at 3201 Samuell Boulevard in East Dallas. People can sign up for that location HERE.
Parkland Hospital also offers COVID testing by appointment near its campus at 1936 Amelia Court. People can sign up HERE.
At the field house, people waiting in line say the wait is longer than when they went for previous tests, but the man eating lunch said he is glad to see people taking extra precautions as hospitalizations increase.
"With the holidays, being around family and friends, then being back at work now, it’s a little bit more important for people to come out & be safe," he said.
The Department of State Health Services says hospitals in Texas had 8,740 COVID-19 patients Thursday, up from 3,144 a month ago.
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