The West Fargo Fire Department and the City of West Fargo is hosting three free COVID-19 rapid testing events Jan. 3-5 in partnership with the North Dakota National Guard.

The community can go to The Lights public parking garage noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 3, 8 a.m. to noon Monday, Jan. 4, and 2 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 5, for the tests. The parking garage is located at 3150 Sheyenne St. and can be accessed from Fifth Street W. Those who would like a test should use the west entrance and follow posted signs.

The test is a self-administered, shallow nose swab that visitors complete themselves in the vehicle. By screening with rapid antigen tests, event attendees will be able to receive their test results within an hour. The test also is less invasive than other tests because it uses a nasal swab to collect a sample from the lower part of the nostril.

The screening is for asymptomatic visitors only. If you are sick, DO NOT attend these events, isolate at home and contact a health provider. Unless it is an emergency, ALWAYS call ahead before visiting your doctor. 

If a person tests positive, they should isolate at home immediately and a case investigator will be in touch with them within 24 hours. If the screening yields a negative result, individuals should continue to monitor for symptoms.

Interested individuals can fill out an online survey at testreg.nd.gov for faster registration.

“We are excited to offer these events that will help us isolate COVID-19 positive individuals more quickly,” said West Fargo Fire Department Chief Dan Fuller. “We want to thank the North Dakota National Guard for the training, tests and supplies so we can hold these events. We would also like to thank EPIC Companies and the residents of The Lights on Sheyenne 32 buildings for their assistance in providing parking space.” 

For more information about rapid antigen tests and North Dakota’s screening strategies, visit https://www.health.nd.gov/rapid-antigen-screening. 

In addition to the three screening events, several local public health units across North Dakota continue to host free testing for community members. A list of testing events is available at health.nd.gov/covidtesting. During these events, a different type of test is typically used that may take 24-72 hours to receive a positive test result and up to 72 hours to receive a negative test result. Due to the privacy of those getting tested, media won’t be invited to this event. 

The community should continue to follow guidelines to slow the spread of COVID-19, including staying home when sick, staying 6 feet apart, avoiding large gatherings, washing hands often, avoiding touching the face, wearing a mask and continuing to clean frequently touched surfaces.

For more information on COVID-19, visit health.nd.gov/coronavirus.