AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Austin Public Health says it's continuing to work to increase the availability of COVID-19 testing across the Austin metro area.
According to the latest state data, more than 22,000 tests have been conducted in Austin-Travis County since the beginning of the pandemic. Officials say that represents a per-capita rate of 15.3 tests per 1,000 people.
APH is currently providing free drive-through testing to anyone who has been approved for a test using the online public enrollment form at AustinTexas.gov/COVID19. Current criteria for getting a test include the presence of symptoms, exposure to others who have tested positive, as well as other high-risk factors identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. APH also has a dedicated testing site for City and County critical staff and first responders.
Officials say the average number of tests per day has increased significantly - up 240% since the testing enrollment form went online last month, averaging 112 per day.
APH is partnering with Williamson County to help serve the entire metro area. More than 300 people have been tested at a site in Georgetown since May 6, with information accessible between epidemiology teams across jurisdictions to help develop a more comprehensive picture of how Central Texas is being affected by the virus, and inform how to further prevent its spread.
"We are testing substantially more people than we have in the past, and with the expansion of testing sites and our technological resources we have the capability to not only help more residents now, but plan for a future of living with coronavirus," said Dr. Mark Escott, Interim Health Authority for Austin-Travis County. "This virus does not stop at jurisdictional boundaries, so partnering with neighboring counties gives us the edge we need to combat this virus effectively."
"Williamson County and Cities Health District (WCCHD) is very fortunate to be partnering with Austin Public Health to be able to offer a no-fee public testing site. We have received multiple comments from the community being tested that they find the online screening system and results portal very easy to use, and they are grateful to be able to have this service available to them for no cost," said Dr. Lori Palazzo, WCCHD Medical Director and Health Authority. "The more testing we are able to offer in the county will give us a better sense of the spread of the virus and allow WCCHD to contain potential outbreaks."
More information on the available services is available at www.AustinTexas.gov/COVID19.
