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Free Covid-19 testing will take place from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Saints Delight Church, 520 Wall St., Albemarle.

The testing will be conducted by members of the Old North State Medical Society. Established in 1887, ONSMS is one of the oldest medical societies for Black physicians in the country.

According to the group’s website, “our primary interest is in educating and advocating for the most vulnerable of vulnerable patients and people residing in communities that consistently produce poorer health outcomes.”

The Stanly County Chapter of NAACP and the South Albemarle Ministerial Alliance have partnered with ONSMS to bring the event to the community.

The first 50 people in attendance at this event will be given free food boxes. The food comes from Black farmers in the Durham area.

Though the county health department continues to provide testing for people, Albemarle Councilman Dexter Townsend said that with Stanly County continuing to have high numbers of Covid cases per capita (378 cases per 10,000 people) there was interest in expanding testing.

Townsend said Camille Kluttz-Leach, a Stanly native who is affiliated with ONSMS and is vice chancellor at Winston-Salem State University, helped coordinate the event and bring the group of physicians to Stanly.

The physicians will also educate the public about preventative measures they can take to remain safe and answer any questions people may have.

“We encourage people from Stanly, Montgomery and Anson County” to come get tested, Townsend said.

People that are interested in getting tested can pre-register by visiting https://onsms.org/preregistration/.