Local health department and Windrose offering free COVID-19 testing

Dr. Brian Niedbalski Submitted photo

COLUMBUS, Ind. — The Bartholomew Health Department and Windrose Health Network will begin offering free COVID-19 testing next week.

The Bartholomew County Health Department, 2675 Foxpointe Drive,
Suite B, will begin offering the testing on Wednesday — dates and times may vary, with evening and Saturday appointments available. The phone number is 812-379-1555, Option 1.

Windrose Health Network will begin at a later date this month.

Testing will be available to all members of the public regardless of symptoms. Children as
young as 2 years of age can be tested with parental consent.

Dr. Brian Niedbalski, Bartholomew County Health Officer said anyone with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 or those who have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, should get tested.

Windrose Health Network is located at 911 E. Main Cross St., Edinburgh. Windrose
will also be utilizing a mobile unit at its Hope location. Windrose may be contacted at 317-680-9901.

Individuals should bring proof of Indiana residency such as a state-issued ID, work ID or utility
bill. Walk-ins will be welcome during designated testing times, but to avoid waiting in line,
individuals are encouraged to register for an appointment by visiting
https://scheduling.coronavirus.in.gov  or by calling the testing site location.

Individuals registering for the health department location must remain in their vehicle and call
812-379-1555 option 1 to check in for their appointment.

This testing is made possible through a grant from the Indiana Department of Health to ensure that community testing is available anywhere there is a need. Through this grant, all the testing supplies and equipment, including test kits, personal protective equipment (PPE), sanitizer and the platform for registration and data management, are provided. The grant continues through June 30, 2021, and is renewable.

The state-run Optum sites will continue to offer testing as well. A complete map of test sites
across the state is available at https://www.coronavirus.in.gov/2524.htm.

For more on this story, see Saturday’s Republic.