Drive-Thru Testing & Vaccines at Southwest Virginia Community Health Systems
Southwest Virginia Community Health Systems is offering appointments to community members for Coronavirus (COVID-19) drive-thru testing and Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines at Saltville Community Health Center, Meadowview Community Health Center, Bristol Community Health Center, and Tazewell Community Health Center.
Appointments are available Monday through Thursday. The Mobile Medical Unit (MMU) will be vaccinating for the entire morning session and testing in the afternoon at each site. Testing is done all day on Mondays because the MMU does not do any vaccines on Mondays.
Southwest Virginia Community Health Systems Administration Building (13191 Glenbrook Avenue, Meadowview, VA 24361): Mobile Medical Unit (MMU): Monday, March 28, 2022 and Thursday, March 31, 2022 from 8:40 a.m. to Noon, then 1:40 p.m. to 4:40 p.m.
Saltville Community Health Center (308 West Main Street Saltville, VA 24370): Mobile Medical Unit (MMU): Tuesday, March 29, 2022 from 8:40 a.m. to Noon, then 1:40 p.m. to 4:40 p.m.
Bristol Community Health Center (2195 Euclid Avenue, Suite 6 Bristol, VA 24201): (MMU): Wednesday, March 30, 2022 from 8:40 a.m. to Noon, then 1:40 p.m. to 4:40 p.m.
Tazewell Community Health Center (386 Ben Bolt Avenue Tazewell, VA 24651): Tuesday, March 29, 2022 and Thursday, March 31, 2022 from 1:40 p.m. to 4:40 p.m.
This is to test for current virus infection and is not antibody testing. Testing is not available on a walk-in basis. Insurance information will be collected at the time of the appointment scheduling, and insurance will be billed for the test. For patients who do not have insurance, financial assistance is available to cover the cost of testing. There are a limited number of appointments available each day and will be offered on a first call first serve basis. Depending on demand SVCHS may expand the testing available at future events. The rapid test results will be available same day and send out tests available in 1-3 days.
The COVID-19 Test
If you are recommended for testing, you will be asked to take a swab test and then sent home for self-isolation until the test results come back.
Test results should be available to the patient within a matter of days.
Test for Current Infection:
A viral test tells you if you have a current infection.
- Viral tests check samples from your respiratory system, such as a swab from the inside of your nose, to tell you if you currently have an infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Some tests are point-of-care tests (Rapid Tests), meaning results may be available at the testing site in less than an hour. Other tests must be sent to a laboratory to analyze, a process that can take up to 2 -3 days once received by the lab.
Test for Past Infection (Antibody Test):
An antibody test might tell you if you had a past infection. An antibody test might not show if you have a current infection because it can take 1–3 weeks after infection for your body to make antibodies. Having antibodies to the virus that causes COVID-19 might provide protection from getting infected with the virus again. If it does, we do not know how much protection the antibodies might provide or how long this protection might last.
- Antibody tests check your blood by looking for antibodies, which may tell you if you had a past infection with the virus that causes COVID-19. Antibodies are proteins that help fight off infections and can provide protection against getting that disease again (immunity). Antibodies are disease specific. For example, measles antibodies will protect you from getting measles if you are exposed to it again, but they won’t protect you from getting mumps if you are exposed to mumps.
- Except in instances in which viral testing is delayed, antibody tests should not be used to diagnose a current COVID-19 infection. An antibody test may not show if you have a current COVID-19 infection because it can take 1–3 weeks after infection for your body to make antibodies. To see if you are currently infected, you need a viral test. Viral tests identify the virus in samples from your respiratory system, such as a swab from the inside of your nose.
If you test positive or negative for COVID-19 on a viral or an antibody test, you still should take preventive measures to protect yourself and others.
How to Get Tested for Current COVID-19 Infection:
To learn if you have a current infection, viral tests are used. Most people have mild illness and can recover at home without medical care. Contact your healthcare provider if your symptoms are getting worse or if you have questions about your health.
If you have symptoms of COVID-19 and want to get tested, call your healthcare provider first.
If you have symptoms of COVID-19 and are not tested, it is important to stay home. Learn what to do if you are sick.
Results:
If you test positive for COVID-19 by a viral test, know what protective steps to take if you are sick or caring for someone.
If you test negative for COVID-19 by a viral test, you probably were not infected at the time your sample was collected. However, that does not mean you will not get sick. The test result only means that you did not have COVID-19 at the time of testing. You might test negative if the sample was collected early in your infection and test positive later during your illness. You could also be exposed to COVID-19 after the test and get infected then.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Positive Test Results
If you test positive for COVID-19 but your symptoms are mild, the doctor will send the you home for self-isolation.
While many experts are recommending at least 14 days of self-isolation, the decision to discontinue self-isolation should be made on a case-by-case basis, in consultation with your doctor and state and local health departments. The decision will be based on the risk of infecting others.
CDC Recommendations Are:
- Stay home, except to get medical care.
- Do not go to work, school or public areas.
- Avoid using public transportation, ride sharing or taxis
- Separate yourself from other people and animals in your home.
- As much as possible, stay in a specific room and away from other people in your home. Use a separate bathroom, if available.
- Restrict contact with pets and other animals while you are sick with COVID-19, just like you would around other people. When possible, have another member of your household care for your animals while you are sick. If you must care for your pet or be around animals while you are sick, wash your hands before and after you interact with pets and wear a face mask.
- Wear a face mask if possible.
- Wear a face mask when you are around other people or pets and before you enter a doctor’s office or hospital.
- Cover your coughs and sneezes.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and throw used tissues in a lined trash can.
- Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after you sneeze. If soap and water are not available, clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
- Clean your hands often.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing; going to the bathroom; and before eating or preparing food.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, covering all surfaces of your hands and rubbing them together until they feel dry.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Do not share personal household items.
- Do not share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, or bedding with other people or pets in your home.
- After using these items, they should be washed thoroughly with soap and water.
- Clean all “high-touch” surfaces every day.
- High-touch surfaces include counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets and bedside tables.
- Clean and disinfect areas that might have any bodily fluids on them.
- Monitor your symptoms.
- Monitor yourself for fever by taking your temperature twice a day and remain alert for coughing or difficulty breathing.
- If you have not had symptoms and you begin to feel feverish or develop a fever, cough, or difficulty breathing, immediately limit contact with others if you have not already done so. Call your doctor, the Ballad Health Nurse Connect hotline, or your local health department to determine whether you need a medical evaluation.
- Seek prompt medical attention if your illness worsens. For example, if you have difficulty breathing. Before going to a doctor’s office or hospital, call your doctor and tell them that you have, or you are being evaluated for, COVID-19.
- Put on a face mask before you enter a healthcare facility or any time you may encounter others.