Thursday, March 28, 2024

Sentara opens two additional coronavirus screening locations

Coronavirus mobile testing (Associated Press photo)
Coronavirus mobile testing (Associated Press photo)

Sentara Healthcare has added additional drive-thru coronavirus (COVID-19) screening locations after reopening two original locations on Thursday.

Sentara announced Friday it is opening drive-thru screening locations at the Sentara CarePlex Hospital in Hampton and at Military Circle in Norfolk. This is in addition to two original locations at the Sentara Princess Anne Hospital in Virginia Beach and the Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center.

Sentara on Wednesday closed its original three screening locations—including one at Sentara Edinburgh in Chesapeake—due to a lack of testing supplies. Locations in Williamsburg and Virginia Beach re-opened on Thursday but Chesapeake’s facility still remains closed.

All screening locations will operate from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday.

Sentara CarePlex Hospital and Military Circle will be open for screening on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The locations will be open on a day-by-day basis depending on the level of supplies each facility can maintain, officials said.

Visitors to the testing sites will remain in their vehicles and go through a three-step process. Sentara is asking people to come to the testing centers only if they believe they have at least two of three symptoms— a fever, a cough or shortness of breath—associated with the virus and meet the travel or contact criteria from the Virginia Department of Health.

The first step is a series of screening questions that address the physical signs of the virus. A clinician will approach the driver’s car and ask questions about their physical symptoms. The clinician will remain six feet away from the car.

The clinician will then determine if the individual should move onto step two or if they should go home.

At step two, the individual will be screened by a health care provider who will ask additional questions and determine if the individual needs a test.

During step three, a test is performed on an individual through a nasal or oral swab.

Once testing is done, patients will be asked to quarantine themselves at home until test results come in. Results could take up to five days — if a patient’s symptoms require additional medical care then they will be directed to available services.

Those who are older than 60 and have a higher risk of complications should come into the center to be tested.

For more information, visit Sentara Healthcare online.

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Alexa Doiron
Alexa Doironhttp://wydaily.com
Alexa Doiron is a multimedia reporter for WYDaily. She graduated from Roanoke College and is currently working on a master’s degree in English at Virginia Commonwealth University. Alexa was born and raised in Williamsburg and enjoys writing stories about local flair. She began her career in journalism at the Warhill High School newspaper and, eight years later, still loves it. After working as a news editor in Blacksburg, Va., Alexa missed Williamsburg and decided to come back home. In her free time, she enjoys reading Jane Austen and playing with her puppy, Poe. Alexa can be reached at alexa@localvoicemedia.com.

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