The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services said Wednesday that it is deploying a drive-thru rapid-testing pod in north Omaha.
The pod, called a Rapid On Demand-Portable Medical Platform, will open Saturday at Metropolitan Community College's Fort Omaha Campus, 5300 N. 30th St.
It will operate from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and have the ability to test about 320 people daily.
The pod is one of 10 the state has purchased from Pacific Engineering Inc. in Lincoln to use as additional Test Nebraska sites. The first pod, a walk-up model, was installed on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus Oct. 15.
Officials said they plan to announce additional locations for the other eight pods — four walk-up and four drive-thru ones — at a later date.
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“We see this partnership with PEI as a way DHHS can continue to innovate and help keep Nebraskans safe," said Dannette R. Smith, chief executive officer for the Department of Health and Human Services. “We knew that with winter approaching, tents would not be a practical way to safely administer tests."
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The pods, which are made of composite materials, are heated and can be used not only for COVID-19 testing but also as locations to administer a vaccine once one is available.
Photos: Test Nebraska lab
Photos: COVID-19 Test Nebraska lab at CHI Health St. Elizabeth
Test Nebraska
A lab technician works on processing a COVID-19 test May 27 by adding reactive agents to a sample at CHI St. Elizabeth.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star file photo
Test Nebraska
Shelves lined with already completed COVID-19 tests wait to be processed in the lab in May at CHI Health St. Elizabeth Hospital.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star file photo
Test Nebraska
A lab technician adds a reactive agent to a COVID-19 test May 27 at CHI Health St. Elizabeth Hospital. The reactant helps to identify COVID-19 and helps the process increase testing capacity.Â
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star file photo
Test Nebraska
Lab technician works on processing a COVID-19 test on Thursday at CHI Health St. Elizabeth Hospital. Test Nebraska hopes to reach its goal of 3,000 tests per day in the coming days.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Test Nebraska
A lab technician works on processing a COVID-19 test by adding a reactive agent on Thursday at CHI Health St. Elizabeth Hospital. The reactant helps to identify COVID-19 and helps the process increase testing capacity. Test Nebraska hopes to reach its goal of 3,000 tests per day in the coming days.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Test Nebraska
The entrance to the lab where Test Nebraska is handling COVID-19 tests Thursday at CHI Health St. Elizabeth Hospital.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Test Nebraska
COVID-19 culture samples wait for processing on Thursday at CHI Health St. Elizabeth Hospital.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star.
Test Nebraska
A lab technician works on processing a COVID-19 test May 28 at CHI St. Elizabeth.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star file photo
Test Nebraska
A lab technician adds a reactive agent to a COVID-19 test on Thursday at CHI Health St. Elizabeth Hospital. The blue light helps technicians know which batch they are testing and ensures that they do not accidentally misplace or retest any samples.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Test Nebraska
A lab technician adds a reactive agent to a COVID-19 test on Thursday at CHI Health St. Elizabeth Hospital. The blue light helps technicians know which batch they are testing and ensures that they do not accidentally misplace or retest any samples.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Test Nebraska
A lab technician adds a reactive agent to a COVID-19 test on Thursday at CHI Health St. Elizabeth Hospital. The blue light helps technicians know which batch they are testing and ensures that they do not accidentally misplace or retest any samples.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Test Nebraska
A lab technician adds a reactive agent to a COVID-19 test on Thursday at CHI Health St. Elizabeth Hospital. The blue light helps technicians know which batch they are testing and ensures that they do not accidentally misplace or retest any samples.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Test Nebraska
Completed COVID-19 tests wait to be processed on Thursday at CHI Health St. Elizabeth Hospital.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Test Nebraska
Shelves lined with already completed COVID-19 tests wait to be processed in the lab on Thursday at CHI Health St. Elizabeth Hospital.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Test Nebraska
Shelves lined with already completed COVID-19 tests wait to be processed in the lab on Thursday at CHI Health St. Elizabeth Hospital.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star.
Test Nebraska
Locations of testing centers associated with the Test Nebraska lab at CHI Health St. Elizabeth Hospital.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star.
Test Nebraska
President of CHI Health St. Elizabeth Derek Vance addresses the media on Thursday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Test Nebraska
President of CHI Health St. Elizabeth Derek Vance addresses the media on Thursday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Test Nebraska
President of CHI Health St. Elizabeth Derek Vance addresses the media on Thursday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Reach the writer at 402-473-2647 or molberding@journalstar.com .
On Twitter @LincolnBizBuzz.
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