In partnership with the New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic (NOMC) and Community Oriented Relief Effort (CORE), the Marigny Opera House will be the site for COVID-19 testing this Friday, September 4. Appointments for the “Testing 1-2-3” pop-up are encouraged. The tests are oral swabs.

September 4’s testing event is the latest of a series taking place on the first Friday of each month, and invites New Orleans musicians and culture bearers to get tested for the disease in an effort to flatten the curve. As of today (August 31), there are 148,193 cases in the State of Louisiana. According to (NOMC), this initiative was launched “to help break the stigma of COVID testing and make it easy for musicians and culture bearers to be served.” Future locations for the testing series will be announced soon.

For this Friday’s event, interested parties can click here to be directed to the registration process, which involves taking a brief, two-part survey. The test itself requires that participants refrain from eating, drinking, using tobacco or chewing gum for 20 minutes before testing. No insurance, payment, identification or symptoms are required to make you eligible. Howlin’ Wolf’s kitchen staff will provide free meals to the culture bearers who get tested.

There are three ways to get your test results: the New Orleans Health Department may call you directly within two to five business days of the test, you may opt to receive results via e-main within two to three business days, or you can call 311 if you haven’t received your results after five days.

Tests will be given between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Friday, September 4 at the Marigny Opera House, located at 725 St. Ferdinand St. in New Orleans. Medicaid enrollment and free HIV testing will also be available.