Drive-thru coronavirus testing here

Ascension Sacred Heart today opens a drive -thru facility for COVID-19 testing. Patients will first have to be pre-screened over the phone before being directed to the drive-through site. The hospital has set a hot line for over-the-phone screenings – 850-746-2684.

Residents with symptoms of COVID-19 should contact their primary care physicians and ask to be screened over the phone, according to hospital officials. The screening will involve questions about symptoms, travel history and possible contact with other coronavirus patients.

Symptoms per CDC:

Reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death for confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases. The following symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure.^*

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath

CDC recommends: “ Call your doctor:  If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and develop a fever and symptoms, such as cough or difficulty breathing, call your healthcare provider for medical advice.”

Those with symptoms should call for a pre-screening before visiting the drive-thru for testing. The hospital is not disclosing the location of the drive-thru to ensure pre-screening is done first.  No patients directed to the drive-thru site will be turned away based on insurance, and there will be no upfront charge for testing.

Inweekly has heard other drive-thru testing sites will open in the community. Stay tuned.

As testing increases, health officials have warned that positive cases will surge, which is what we’re seeing in Florida.

The Florida Department of Health releases COVID-19 test results numbers twice on Sunday – 1:45 a.m. and 6:10 p.m.  Florida had an additional 33 positive cases reported. Negative test results went up – 206; Pending tests – 293.