Fort Bend County reports increase in demand for COVID-19 testing

By George Slaughter, News Editor
Posted 1/6/22

Fort Bend County officials are urging residents seeking free COVID-19 testing to be patient as the demand for testing has increased due in part to the Omicron variant.

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Fort Bend County reports increase in demand for COVID-19 testing

Posted

Fort Bend County officials are urging residents seeking free COVID-19 testing to be patient as the demand for testing has increased due in part to the Omicron variant.

County officials said the number of COVID-19 tests performed at county testing locations has almost tripled. In November, Fort Bend Health & Human Services performed less than 500 tests. In December, the agency performed over 1,300 tests.

The data collected from Fort Bend HHS shows 897 residents have tested positive since December 20, the highest since April/March of 2020. Additionally, the age group most infected with the virus is under 50.

County officials said the majority of shots being administered in the county now are for the COVID-19 booster shot. The CDC recommends everyone ages five years and older get a COVID-19 vaccine to help protect against COVID-19.

Fort Bend County Judge KP George said county leaders have been adamant about testing and providing residents with access to testing and vaccines.

“Under the advisement of our health authority and medical partners, we have changed our testing structure and capacity based on need, and that’s the reason we are in the top percentage of testing and vaccinations in the state, so the increase in demand is no different,” George said. “We’re taking the necessary steps to accommodate the surge.”

Fort Bend County offers COVID-19 testing at four sites. The North Katy Annex Clinic, is at 22333 Grand Corner Drive, is the only one in the Katy area.

The other Fort Bend County testing sites are the Rosenberg Annex Clinic in Rosenberg, the Four Corners Community Center in Sugar Land, and the Fifth Street Community Center in Stafford.

To set an appointment, county residents are asked to call 281-633-7795. But residents wanting to set appointment might experience longer hold times, or perhaps a busy signal.

County officials said they have added more staff and appointments to increase testing capacity. They are also in negotiations to launch more COVID-19 test sites.

George urged people to follow the CDC’s recommendations of wearing face coverings, avoiding large crowds, and social distancing where possible.

“I strongly recommend to our residents, who are not vaccinated, to get the vaccine, if they are eligible,” George said. “The best defense against the variants of COVID-19 is awareness, testing, and the vaccine.”