We were pleased to see information reported by Mining Journal professional staff last week that the Superior Walk-in and Family Health Center plans to start offering limited drive-through COVID-19 testing at its clinic along U.S. 41 in Marquette Township for six hours per week starting on Tuesday.

Testing on a first come, first served basis will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. To our knowledge, it’s the only drive-through testing option confirmed now in Marquette County.

Health care workers who are asymptomatic are also able to receive the service during the testing time frames, the Journal story reported.

No appointment is necessary and clinic officials ask only that prospective patients be experiencing COVID-19 symptoms when coming to the clinic to be tested.

“For most of those people, active disease is only going to be active for 10 days. It is important that people truly be symptomatic. If you want to know if you have had the virus, you can get an antibody test in the future,” Superior Walk-in bookkeeper and registered nurse Rondi Olson, said. “Due to supply shortages, we are unable to test other asymptomatic persons — including essential workers who are not in health care — at this time.”

The clinic plans to do 75 to 100 tests per week. COVID-19 symptoms include fever, dry cough and shortness of breath, but the disease can also involve other symptoms, the Journal story noted.

Those who would like to be tested should bring their driver’s license and health insurance information, Olson said. The sample will be collected from the patient at their car.

Although drive-through testing is relatively common elsewhere, it hasn’t been confirmed in use here up until this point. We believe this is great news and will help the war against the coronavirus.

For more information on testing at any of the Superior Walk-in Clinic & Family Health locations, visit the company’s Facebook page or call the clinic location at 906-226-2233.