LANSING, MICH. The Michigan National Guard will continue its partnership with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Michigan State Police, and local health departments to offer COVID-19 testing this Thursday and Friday at Manistee High School in Manistee.

Located at 525 12th Street, Manistee, Michigan, this drive-through site will be offering tests at no cost to the public from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, June 25 and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, June 26.

“The important mission of making widespread COVID-19 testing safe, easy, and accessible is something the men and women of the Michigan State Police, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, and the Michigan National Guard are excelling at,” said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. “This type of testing remains one of the best ways to ensure the safety of our neighbors and communities as Michigan gets back to work.”

The Michigan National Guard has more than 45 trained testing teams ready to assist, of which 20 are currently assigned to support the community testing mission. These three-member teams include a certified medic to conduct the testing and two members to assist with paperwork, logistics, and non-medical tasks. All team members from the Michigan National Guard have tested negative for COVID-19 and have been following strict medical protocols to ensure health and safety and to protect Michigan communities.

“The Michigan National Guard is very proud to have teamed up with the Michigan State Police and the Michigan Department of Health and Human services for this mission,” said Maj. Gen. Paul Rogers, Adjutant General and Director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. “Even as more than 1,100 guard members have been supporting the state’s response to COVID-19, not a single member of the Michigan National Guard has tested positive themselves as a result of their involvement with these missions – proof that the guidance for risk mitigation from public health officials has been effective.”

This drive-through testing site will feature additional resources, such as information for those interested in joining the Michigan National Guard and resources for veterans.

The MING has been actively engaged in the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic through widespread testing and screening, distribution of personal protective equipment, and assistance at numerous food banks across the state. The community testing initiative is a continuation of those efforts.

Similar testing has been held in 26 other communities over the past five weeks. 

For photos of COVID-19 testing June 19 in Coldwater, click here: https://www.dvidshub.net/image/6246752/michigan-national-guard-conducted-covid-19-testing-coldwater-mich

Information around this outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

                                                                            ###