LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville's chief health strategist is urging residents to get tested for COVID-19 weekly.

Director of the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness Dr. Sarah Moyer warned of the city's high case count.

“We have so much hope because the vaccine has arrived,” she said. “But it will take months to get everyone vaccinated. In the meantime, COVID-19 is still very present in our community. We continue to see a high case count, cases in every ZIP code, and last week was our third highest week on record for cases and deaths. Getting tested helps catch cases early and isolating at home stops the chain of transmission and protects our friends and family from getting sick.”

According to Moyer, those who should get tested weekly include residents who:

• Go into work
• Travel
• Shop in grocery or retail stores
• Eat at restaurants or bars
• Go to in-person church services
• Have children participating in sports
• Attend any gatherings where mask-wearing and social distancing are difficult
• Were exposed to someone who tested positive
• Have symptoms of COVID-19 such as fatigue, headache, runny nose, cough, or loss of taste and smell.

"I know testing is uncomfortable, but it only lasts for a moment. None of us want to spread the virus to our friends, family or community," Moyer added.

Louisville hosts more than 21 testing sites open to the general public, and they can be found online.

According to a press release from Public Health and Wellness, many sites can test up to 300 people per day, but only a small number of people are showing up. Test results are delivered anywhere from 12 to 72 hours.

Those who test positive are encouraged to call the LOU HEALTH COVID-19 Helpline at 502-912-8598.