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Columbia and Hamilton County health department officials are offering no-cost drive-through testing for covid-19 during the next few days.
Columbia and Hamilton County health department officials are offering no-cost drive-through testing for covid-19 during the next few days.
The testing is available to anyone that wants to get tested. No signs or symptoms of covid-19 are required to be tested. Children can be tested with parental consent. No appointment is needed for testing.
Weather permitting, the testing will take place:
- Today (Saturday), 9-11 a.m., at Wilson Park, 232 NE Hillsboro Street, Lake City;
- Wednesday, 9-11 a.m., at Wilson Park, 232 NE Hillsboro Street, Lake City;
- Thursday, 9-11 a.m., at the Hamilton County Health Department, 209 SE Central Ave., Jasper; and
- Saturday, July 18, 9-11 a.m., at Wilson Park, 232 NE Hillsboro Street, Lake City.
Due to the heat and medical protective gear that staff must wear, testing will stop at 11 a.m. To ensure testing, people must be in line by 11 a.m., because the screening will be closed to additional vehicles at that time.
Most tests will be completed with a nasal swab, which may be slightly uncomfortable; however, the test is quick and should take less than a minute. Antibody tests will not be available. After being tested, individuals are asked to continue monitoring for symptoms and practice social distancing.
Test results will not be immediately available and could take up to 3-5 days. Anyone who was tested will receive test results via the telephone number given at the time of screening. Calling to check on results will not expedite the process.
The testing is conducted by health care professionals in medical protective gear who are trained to test for covid-19.
People seeking testing are to remain in their vehicles and each person to be tested should be seated next to a working window. Officials ask that individuals who want the testing try to limit the number of individuals in their vehicles to only those who need to be tested.
There will be wait times so individuals should prepare by having a full tank of gas and drive a vehicle that has a working air conditioner. There are no public bathrooms available at the testing locations.
Individuals will be asked to provide their personal contact information for the screening and will be provided with after-testing instructions and information on how to obtain test results online.
People seeking the screening will then be routed to a health care provider who will give instructions.
For additional information, please call (386) 397-6676.