Whether it is the fear of pain or the thought of getting unwelcome news, having a medical test performed can be frightening.

It can be so frightening, in fact, that some may decide to throw caution to the wind and forgo getting a test altogether.

The Vicksburg Post recently conducted a survey involving community feedback on the COVID-19 pandemic. Interestingly, 36 percent of people said that if COVID-19 testing was available for any person for any reason, they still would not get the test.

Last Thursday, Vicksburg Post reporter Terri Frazier volunteered to have a COVID-19 deep nasal swab test in an effort to show readers the test is not painful.

Dr. Carlos Latorre, who is a Vicksburg physician at Mission Primary and serves as a member of the state’s COVID-19 task force administered the test while Vicksburg Post photographer, Courtland Wells, filmed the testing procedure from start to finish.

The video, which accompanies this article, shows Frazier did not experience any pain. The video can be viewed anytime by visiting the link vicksburgpost.com/2020/05/15/covidtest/.

Results from the test revealed Frazier’s test was negative.

There is still much to learn about COVID-19. Scientists are working nonstop to develop treatments and a cure for the virus, and getting tested could potentially aid their efforts, while also helping curtail the spread.

Test results can be crucial in helping treat and isolate those infected. Those who are showing symptoms are encouraged to call their physician to see if they are a candidate for testing.