From staff reports Published 12:53 p.m. CT Aug. 7, 2020

Ascension Sacred Heart announced Friday that it wasexpanding eligibility for COVID-19 testing at its drive-thru sites in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties to include all people who want a nasal swab test, regardless of whether they have symptoms.

The testing sites previously limited testing only to people who reported having symptoms of COVID-19, including fever, cough and shortness of breath.

The expanded scope of testing will apply to the drive-thru sites at:

The Pensacola drive-thru sitehas tested more than 24,000 people since launching March 16.

The drive-thru clinics at Tiger Point and Milton started this week withfederal funds that Santa Rosa County allocated for additional testing locations in the county. The sites are open to any Santa Rosa County residents, regardless of symptoms or insurance status. Community Health Northwest Florida will partner Sacred Heart in staffing the testing locations.

Each of the three sites can provide up to 300 nasal swab tests per day with lab results back within 48 hours.

"As our community prepares to open schools and with residents trying to get back to work after an exposure to the virus or recovery from the virus, we saw the need to expand testing and get results quickly to individuals with and without symptoms," said Justin Labrato, chief operating officer of Ascension Medical Group Sacred Heart., in a the news release.

"The swab tests will be sent to our hospital laboratory which currently has the equipment and supplies to analyze a larger volume of tests and provide results within 48 hours. We're pleased to be able to expand testing and help to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our area."

All individuals who want to be tested must call the Ascension Sacred Heart Screening Call Center at 850-746-2684 in advance.

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Ascension Sacred Heart expands COVID-19 testing at three drive-thru sites - Pensacola News Journal