HHOMA announces free COVID-19 testing at Riverfront Park: Sept. 26, 2020

CHARLESTON, WV – The Herbert Henderson Office of Minority Affairs (HHOMA) is offering free COVID-19 testing in Jackson County on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020, from noon to 6 p.m.

The tests will be offered at Riverfront Park: 220 Riverfront Park, Ravenswood, WV.

Kroger Store #708, based in Ripley, will provide hospitality items to volunteers on site.

The COVID-19 testing locations are organized through Governor Jim Justice’s COVID-19 Advisory Commission on African American Disparities in order to provide testing opportunities to residents in counties with high minority populations and evidence of COVID-19 transmission.

Since May, free testing has been offered by the Herbert Henderson Office of Minority Affairs in partnership with the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, the West Virginia National Guard, and various community partners from across the state.

“We deeply appreciate the commitment Governor Justice has shown to ensuring that our minority and vulnerable communities have access to all the testing and other healthcare resources that they’ve needed throughout this pandemic,” said HHOMA Executive Director Jill Upson. “With the support of our partners, our office looks forward to continued efforts to bring essential resources directly to those who need them most.”

This event and future COVID-19 testing locations are available for free to all residents, including asymptomatic individuals. Proof of insurance is not required. Attendees should bring identification, such as a driver’s license or proof of address. Those under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

Further testing is also scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Oct. 2 and 3, in Ranson in Jefferson County.

Several additional testing events will be held across the state in the coming weeks. Click here to view the full list of upcoming COVID-19 testing locations, dates, and times.

During a recent similar testing event, held Sept. 18-19, 2020, at West Virginia State University in Kanawha County, 1,133 free COVID-19 tests were administered.

Photos of this testing site for media use can be found below:

Photos courtesy of WVSU photographer, Todd Griffith