LOUISVILLE, Ky. — On Tuesday Norton Healthcare opened its brand new COVID-19 testing site in the parking lot of the YMCA in West Louisville. It’s not a temporary one only in town for a few weeks but a permanent testing site.

“She’s a healthcare worker, and I own a small business so we want to protect our community and ourself as well,” said Andrew Collins who got tested for the first time with his wife Dede Collins on Tuesday morning. The two did the drive-thru testing option, but if someone doesn’t have a vehicle, walk-ups are also an option.

“So we do allow foot traffic to take place. We obviously ask people to socially distance, utilize their mask, practice good health hygiene from the standpoint, but we are able to help facilitate folks by any mode of transportation, on foot or in car,” said interim director Sam Zuege of Norton Healthcare’s COVID-19 testing operations.

The test is available to all Kentuckians, no matter where they live but appointments are required as the site can only accommodate up to 300 people each day. There is also a limit of four people per vehicle.

There are a few options to make an appointment:

• Online - NortonHealthcare.com/RITC 
• Phone - 502-861-4611, option 1.
• Walk-up - Simply go to the testing site and sign-up for a day-of or future appointment.

Any government-issued photo ID is required, but if someone does not have one, the testing site works with people to figure something out. 

After the test is conducted, it takes two to three days to receive back the results. Zuege said employees work around the clock to get those results back to those who tested for COVID-19 as soon as possible.

“Because if someone has been tested, there’s either a need, there’s a want, or there’s a reason behind it, and so we are trying to help facilitate that care,” Zuege told Spectrum News 1. He added, “You know healthcare is 24/7 so we are really trying to make sure that it’s successful for all, at any time, any day.”