Jennie Stuart Health officials have announced an easily accessible testing and screening site will be set up beginning Friday for patients with signs and symptoms that represent a COVID-19 infection.
JSH officials say the temporary site will be located at the Jennie Stuart Express Lab off Eagle Way Bypass. Patients will be assessed by their healthcare team from their car unless clinical need dictates otherwise. Patients exhibiting any influenza-like symptoms will be tested with a rapid flu, rapid strep, and a sample for COVID-19 testing if those initial tests fail to reveal a cause.
According to officials, anyone who is sick enough to be tested will need to self-quarantine, as will any other persons in the vehicle at the time of testing along with any household contacts, until the results of the tests are determined. Healthcare officials say they can get the results for the rapid flu and rapid strep tests within an hour, whereas the results for the COVID-19 test may take several days.
For the safety of patients and staff, Jennie Stuart Health officials are asking patients to use the following guidelines:
- Hours of operation are 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., and open to the public
- Only people exhibiting symptoms should come to the screening and testing site. People not meeting the criteria will not be tested at this time.
- Remain in your car and follow instructions as directed by staff
- Have patience as they serve others in line, and be prepared to wait
- Once samples are obtained, patients will be directed home and will be notified by phone of the results as they are received.
JSH officials say regular Express Lab services will be closed. Patients are asked to go to the main hospital and enter through the main entrance near the Emergency Department for lab testing.
