ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Free, rapid COVID-19 testing will start in Rochester on Saturday and will continue every week through December.

The city's goal is to not turn anyone away who comes for a test.

Registration on the Monroe County Website is preferred, but walk-ups will also be welcomed. A total of 4,100 tests will be distributed among four city high schools and testing days are Monday through Wednesday and Saturday.

RTS is working with the city to provide free transportation to and from the test sites.

Dr. Cephas Archie, the city's chief equity officer, says the goal is to make testing as accessible as possible for Rochester residents — even if they cannot register online.

"For those who are not able to, you can actually still register on-site. That registration timeline may have you to wait a little bit longer and we intentionally want to avoid that, not to have people sitting or standing or stalled at one specific point in time because we want to keep things flowing appropriately so we can keep additional exposure down. Although it's not our ideal or preferred method, we will not turn someone away because they have not registered," said Dr. Archie.

The test is a quick nose swab that people will do themselves. If you have a car, you are asked to stay in your car to do your test. If you test positive, you will be notified in about 20 minutes. 

People who have symptoms of COVID-19 are asked to contact their health care provider or call the Monroe County COVID-19 Hotline at 585-753-5555.

The drive-up testing sites are as follows:

• East High School, 1801 E. Main Street, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturdays, December 5, 12, and 19
• Benjamin Franklin High School, 950 Norton Street, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., Mondays, December 7, 14, 21, and 28
• Joseph C. Wilson Magnet High School, 501 Genesee Street, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesdays, December 8, 15, 22, and 29
• Jefferson High School, 1 Edgerton Park, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesdays, December 9, 16, 23, and 30

To register for a test, call 311 or click here.