Individuals visiting the site must be referred there by a health care provider and possess a health care notification in order to be tested.”

Maria DiPetta, Katy ISD Spokesperson

Katy ISD confirmed Thursday morning that a COVID-19 drive-through testing center is being established at Legacy Stadium. The site is not operational as yet but is expected to begin operating in the next few days.

“Individuals visiting the site must be referred there by a health care provider and possess a health care notification in order to be tested.  The site will not be open for random testing and the District is advising residents not to show up without a referral, as this can unintentionally put others at risk, cause delays and interrupt the healthcare professionals who are working expeditiously to open the testing site,” said KISD Communications Manager Maria DiPetta in the statement.

Law enforcement will be on hand to direct traffic and protect patients' privacy, DiPetta said. Busses are being set up around the testing center to ensure patient privacy as well.

Once the site is open, only those with a medical order will be tested, the statement read.

Dr. Umair Shah, health authority for Harris County, said in a press conference that the testing center will not increase risk to nearby residents because the testing centers are drive-thru only. Patients will not get out of their vehicles as they are processed through the site, he said, but will receive a nasal swab test to collect a specimen and be sent back home to self-isolate. He cited experiences other regions affected by novel coronavirus have not experienced increased infections relating to the proximity of a testing site.

“The risk to the community around these testing sites is not there,” Shah said.