A new coronavirus testing initiative will begin taking in Cullman County residents for COVID-19 tests next week, with a results turnaround of two to three days.

In conjunction with the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH), testing for COVID-19 will become available by call-ahead appointment at the Cullman County Health Department beginning Tuesday, April 7. Like other test offerings nationwide, tests at the health department are being targeted at those who present symptoms of the disease or have a doctor’s referral.

The tests, which are free of charge, will be administered on Tuesdays and Thursdays during a two and-a-half-hour window from 1 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. on each day. While April 7 is the start date for testing, health officials haven’t set an end date, and plan to make the tests available for as long as needed as they continually assess the ongoing severity of the pandemic.

Candidates for the tests must have symptoms that match the COVID-19 profile, and ADPH is recommending — but not requiring — that they also have a referral from a physician.

Symptoms that could make someone eligible to receive the test include, at minimum, a “measured or subjective fever OR cough OR shortness of breath,” according to ADPH, as well as at least one the following:

The patient is hospitalized

The patient is immunocompromised or has co-morbidities

The patient is age 65 years or older

The patient is a healthcare worker

The patient is associated with a long-term healthcare facility

The Cullman County Health Department is located in west Cullman just off U.S. Highway 278. The department’s address is 601 Logan Avenue SW, Cullman, AL 35055. If you meet the eligibility criteria to receive testing, contact the health department at 256-734-1030 to make an appointment.

Benjamin Bullard can be reached by phone at 256-734-2131 ext. 234.

State 1,105

Cullman 9

Surrounding counties 

Blount 5 

Winston 2 

Walker 32

Morgan 19

Marshall 6 

These numbers were taken from the Alabama Health Department website on Wednesday (April 1) evening.