JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — 3/18 UPDATE:
- Patients must be pre-screened by an Ascension provider before they are directed to the testing site.
- They can also use the Ascension Online Care website but it does cost $20.
These changes were made late on Wednesday evening. A representative with Ascension Medical Group St. Vincent's says the changes were necessary in order to be able to properly track patients according to state guidelines.
This is an evolving situation and those with a note from a primary care doctor that is not an Ascension provider should seek testing from a third-party.
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Starting Tuesday morning, people who wish to be tested for COVID-19 can be evaluated at a drive-through testing site at St. Vincent's hospital in Jacksonville.
The drive-through testing site opened Tuesday at 8 a.m., according to a spokesperson for Ascension Medical Group St. Vincent's.
Those who wish to be tested must first be pre-screened by a primary care physician. The pre-screen can be in person, over the phone or virtually via Ascension Online Care. During the screening, patients will answer questions about symptoms, travel history and potential contact with COVID-19 patients. If a patient meets the guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, then that patient will be directed to a testing site.
At the drive-through testing site, patients will remain in their vehicles at all times. While insurance information will be collected, no patient with a physician or provider order will be turned away and there is no upfront cost, according to Ascension.
Nasal swab tests will be collected and sent to state-approved labs to be analyzed. Results can take up to a week, Ascension says. Positive results will be alerted to the Florida Department of Health.
Florida Department of Health COVID-19 Dashboard
Links to bookmark:
- List | Schools, events closed or canceled due to coronavirus concerns
- List | Florida universities, colleges move classes online due to coronavirus concerns
- List: Voting location changes, how to vote if you feel sick
- This interactive map shows all reported coronavirus cases in the world
- List: Grocery stores changing hours to stock as customers prep for COVID-19 quarantines
- Florida Department of Health's COVID-19 Data and Surveillance Dashboard