The City of Galveston will offer free Covid-19 testing for service industry workers beginning as early as Monday, July 13.
The Galveston City Council recently approved the use of funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) toward providing free testing for service industry workers.
Employees such as those working at restaurants, bars, hotels, motels, grocery, or other retail stores are frequently coming into contact with others, which may put them at a higher risk of getting the coronavirus. At the same time, many positions do not provide health insurance benefits. The program is intended to avail workers to free testing at any time.
UTMB will conduct all testing at their Galveston facility and provide the results to the applicant. However, applicants must go through the Grants & Housing Department to register for the testing and schedule the appointment.
Applicants can call Grants & Housing at 409-797-3820 to make an application by telephone and schedule an appointment. If restaurants, bars, hotels, motels, or grocery/retail stores are interested in having their workforce tested, they can also contact Grants & Housing at the same number to get information on how to register their employees for testing.
Applicants must be an employee of a restaurant, bar, or grocery/retail store in Galveston earn less than $44,150 annually. Additional information and a downloadable application form are on the City of Galveston website under the Grants & Housing Department at https://www.galvestontx.gov/1104/UTMB-COVID-19-Testing.