Walk-up testing sites await in Fort White

Image
  • Testing will be conducted at the Fort White Clinic, 535 Dortch Street, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Friday.  
    Testing will be conducted at the Fort White Clinic, 535 Dortch Street, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Friday.  
Body

On Friday, the Florida Department of Health in Columbia County will offer covid-19 testing in Fort White to walk-up patients who meet the relevant criteria. 

Testing will be conducted at the Fort White Clinic, 535 Dortch Street, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Friday. A similar walk-up event was held in White Springs on Wednesday. 

Individuals will be screened upon arrival and will only get tested if they meet the guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control and Florida Department of Health. 

There will be no charge for tests administered at this site, according to a statement from health officials. 

Patients are sorted into priority groups. 

Only those who fall into the first and second tier qualify for testing at the Fort White location. 

The top priority group includes healthcare facility workers with symptoms, health officials said in a statement. The second priority tier includes symptomatic people 65 and older, symptomatic people with underlying conditions and symptomatic first responders. 

Those who fail to meet the criteria will be referred back to their primary care physician. 

The test involves a minimally invasive nasal swab and does not check for antibodies in the blood. Results may take one to two days or longer. 

Those who are administered the test will be given instructions on what to do while awaiting results, which will be disclosed by phone.

Further information can be requested at 386-397-6676.