Columbia and Hamilton Counties offering free COVID-19 drive-thru testing this week

COVID-19 testing
COVID-19 testing

Columbia and Hamilton County will be conducting no-cost drive-thru testing for COVID-19 on certain dates in July. Testing is available for anyone that wants to get tested; no signs or symptoms needed to be tested. Children can be tested with parental consent. No appointment is needed. Do not eat, drink or use tobacco products 2 hours before testing. You may drink water prior to testing.

What To Expect: Each individual will be asked to provide their last name, first name, address, date of birth and contact information. To expedite the registration process, please have your driver’s license available. You will be provided with after-testing instructions. You will then be routed to a health care provider who will give you instructions. Testing is conducted by health care professionals in medical protective gear who are trained to test for COVID-19. You will remain in your vehicle. Each person to be tested should be seated next to a working window. Try to limit individuals in your vehicle to only those who need to be tested. 

There may be wait times – prepare by having a full tank of gas and drive a vehicle that has working air conditioner. Please note, there are no public bathrooms available at the testing locations. For the safety of those in attendance and conducting the testing, no walk-ups will be permitted.

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What Is the Testing Process: A soft swab will be inserted in your throat to get the necessary sample. This 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, continue to monitor for symptoms and practice social distancing. 

After Testing: Test results are not immediate. It may take up to 3-5 days for results. You will receive test results via the telephone number you gave at the time of screening. Please be patient – calling back to check on your results will not expedite the process. If you do not receive a call within 5 days you can contact 386-397-6697 or send an email to WebInfoColumbia@flhealth.gov

Dates and Locations: (Weather Permitting)

Due to the heat and medical protective gear that staff must wear, testing will stop at 11 am. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but the safety of our staff is very important. 

• Wednesday July 22nd 9 am – 11 am Ft. White Community Center, Highway 47, Ft. White, FL

• Thursday, July 23rd 9 am – 11 am Hamilton County Health Dept., 209 SE Central Ave, Jasper, FL

• Saturday July 25th 9 am – 11 am Wilson Park, 232 NE Hillsboro Street, Lake City, FL 

For more information please contact 386-397-6676.

If you are unable to test at one of the locations/dates above visit the website below for other testing locations: https://floridadisaster.org/covid19/testing-sites/

CVS Health offers no-cost drive-thru testing at select CVS Pharmacy locations; visit the website below for more information and locations.

https://www.cvs.com/minuteclinic/covid-19-testing…

If your place of employment is requiring a negative test to resume work, please contact your primary care provider or the provider your employer has setup for you to be tested. 

If You’re Sick: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says people who are mildly ill with COVID-19 are able to recover at home. Here are some general guidelines to follow: Do not leave, except to get medical care. Do not visit public areas. Stay in touch with your doctor. Call before you get medical care. Be sure to get care if you feel worse or you think it is an emergency. Avoid public transportation, ride-sharing, or taxis. Separate yourself from other people in your home. Avoid sharing personal household items. Clean all “high-touch” surfaces every day.

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