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VIDALIA — The Concordia Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness will continue to offer free COVID-19 testing in the parish next week, officials said.

Concordia Parish OEP Director Timothy Vanier said testing would be offered from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Monday, July 6, at the Concordia Parish Academy of Math, Science, & Technology, 200 Webber Drive, in Ridgecrest and again from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 8, at the Concordia Parish Library, 8723 Louisiana Highway 566, in Clayton.

“The Concordia Parish OHSEP is going to continue the free COVID-19 testing until further notice,” Vanier said. “… The Concordia Parish OHSEP has received several calls in regards to the free COVID-19 testing. I would like to encourage everyone to take advantage of this free testing. All that is needed is to be 18 years old or older and have a valid form of identification (such as a driver’s license or photo ID.)”

Vanier said anyone over 18, whether they are a parish resident, showing symptoms or not could take advantage of the free testing.

Those being tested will receive an information packet at the testing site with further instructions and how to receive test results, which should be given by phone call from the Louisiana Department of Health within 24 to 48 hours after they are tested, Vanier said.

“I would like to encourage anyone, whether they are showing symptoms or not, to take advantage of this testing simply due to the fact that it is free and we’ve had a lot of COVID-19 positive patients who were asymptomatic,” he said.

For more information, the Concordia Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness can be reached at 318-414-1678 or by email to oep@conppj.org.