One great resource to how testing works, where the testing sites are located and how each of them should be accessed is here. It is updated on a regular basis and has the numbers for screening for most of the testing sites.
For patients who are uninsured, there are options with the city and county. They are offered 6 days weekly: M-W in precincts 2 and 4 in the county and Th-Sa in pricints 1 and 3. They are mobile pop up sites, which means they change locations to try to meet the needs of where they are finding the concentration of need for testing.
If you live inside city limits you should call 832-393-4220 between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. If you are outside city limits, but inside Harris county, you should go to the website for a code for testing. They ask questions about being symptomatic because of false negatives, so they are prioritizing symptomatic patients. However, at this point, both the city and the county will test anyone who want to be tested if they have capacity, although they are prioritizing those with symptoms. The code is for line control, and the line is staffed by law enforcement officers to keep things flowing nicely.
At the county pop up sites, you drive through, you roll down your window halfway, and a nurse uses the swab to collect the sample.
There are also two stationary sites at Baytown and Katy for the county, and two city sites (locations will be researched). These sites are self swab sites, and you will be given the testing media, and instructed in collecting the sample yourself.
As recently as Friday, there are also screening sites at Walgreens locations; these will be self-swabbing sites as well.
All are free, not asking immigration status, not taking copayment.
There is a great deal of information on the covid website.
Test results take 3-5 days.
Contact Harris health if unsure if you feel you need to be evaluated: the county’s triage line is available from 9am-7pm at 713-634-1110, and they prefer you call so that you can be appropriately triaged before arriving at a hospital, and the hospital can be prepared for you, even if you need hospital care. The county hospitals (Ben Taub and LBJ) are equipped to handle COVID-19 patients.