Some free testing to resume on Friday

TEXARKANA, Texas - Bowie County and the city of Texarkana, Texas, will resume offering free COVID-19 tests beginning Friday.

Saying resources to care for COVID-19 patients are "critically low," the city/county joint Emergency Operations Center announced the move in a statement Wednesday.

Testing will be available 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday at the Texarkana-Bowie County Family Health Center, 902 W. 12th St.

Walk-ins will be accepted, or those seeking tests can preregister at allamericantesting.com. For more information, call 214-556-8088

Also on Wednesday, the Texarkana Emergency Center and Hospital said it would begin limiting COVID testing to patients showing symptoms, citing limited resources.

"We've been a good steward to our community to try to help those that are asymptomatic. But now we've got to triage our tests, as well as we triage our patients, for the most critical during this pandemic," said Dr. Matt Young, the center's chief medical officer, in an interview.

Young is also the Bowie County Health Authority. In the EOC statement, he urged all eligible to get vaccinated.

"We are seeing sick patients come through the clinic and emergency rooms at an alarming rate, and most of them are unvaccinated. This new Delta variant is moving quickly through our area and affecting younger populations more acutely. Now is the time to remain vigilant and keep fighting this disease," he said.

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