Sentara Healthcare has re-opened two drive-thru screening locations for the coronavirus (COVID-19).
Sentara announced Thursday two locations, Sentara Princess Anne Hospital in Virginia Beach and the Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center, would re-open to patients for drive-thru screening and testing, according to a news release from Sentara.
Sentara Edinburgh in Chesapeake will not reopen its drive-thru testing at this time and residents in the area are encouraged to visit Sentara Princess Anne Hospital for screening.
The change comes after Sentara announced Wednesday the drive-thru screening locations would temporarily close after just two days of operation due to a lack of testing kits.
Sentara has received more testing kits which has allowed it to re-open the two screening sites. However, the two sites will remain open only as long as supplies last.
Sentara’s drive-thru screening centers will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. starting Thursday.
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.
