There were 19 COVID-19 tests administered at the drive-thru COVID-19 test site in Carriere on Thursday, a decrease from the 57 tests administered at the first drive-thru test site in Pearl River County on April 4. Another free test site will be available in Lumberton on Saturday.

The number of tests administered in Carriere was similar to testing in other locations recently, said UMC Executive Director of Communications Marc Rolph. In Tallahatchie on Wednesday, May 27 there were also 19 tests administered, during the weekend prior 22 people in Walnut Grove were tested at a mobile site, Byron had 38, Minden Hall had 25 on May 22 and Collins had 21 people tested. Starkville was the exception, where 103 tests were administered at a drive-thru site on Thursday.

On average there are five to six free test sites offered in a week, plus a test site in Jackson that is held Monday through Saturday, said Rolph. The test site in Jackson was previously located at the Fairgrounds where 120 to 150 people received tests there in a day. The site was relocated on Monday to the West Street Farmers Market.

Rolph said UMMC does not capture data on how many people test positive or negative at the mobile test sites. As of June 1 there were 16,020 cases in the state with 767 deaths, and 211 cases in Pearl River County with 31 deaths, according to the Mississippi State Department of Health website. As of May 31, 11,203 people are presumed recovered from COVID-19 in the state.

To get tested at a free drive-thru test site, people must go through a screening and make an appointment. The easiest way to make one is using the C-Spire app, but those without smartphones can also call 601-496-7200.

A free test site will be available in Lumberton at the Ben Barrett Community Center on Saturday. Other upcoming test sites include the National Guard Armory in Taylorsville on Wednesday; the Lexington Multi-Purpose Center in Lexington on Wednesday; the Becker Community Center in Amory on Thursday; the Neshoba County Coliseum in Philadelphia on Friday.