Lazaro Aleman
ECB Publishing, Inc.
The Florida Department of Health in Jefferson County (FDOH-Jefferson) is now conducting COVID-19/coronavirus testing at various locations around the community.
The testing started on Thursday, May 7, and will continue until Saturday, May 30, per a memo issued by FDOH-Jefferson on Wednesday, May 6.
Pam Gilleland-Beck, public information officer with the FDOH, said the testing is being performed in conjunction with the Governor’s Reopening Plan.
“All testing will take place outside the selected testing sites’ parking lots,” Gilleland-Beck said. “In the event of rain, testing will take place at the DOH-Jefferson clinic at 1255 W. Washington Street.”
Gilleland-Beck noted that these will not be rapid tests nor antibody tests.
“All test specimens will be processed by a commercial laboratory and the results will be returned to the health department,” she said. “Someone from the health department will then contact the tested individuals by phone to give them the test results.”
Gilleland-Beck said that individuals who test positive for the virus will be asked to identify their close contacts and will be provided with further instructions at that time.
To ensure that the FDOH-Jefferson has adequate staff and supplies to do the testing, the department asks that individuals who want to be tested call ahead and identify the site and date that they prefer to undergo the test.
“Our staff will be happy to register you at one of the community testing sites,” Gilleland-Beck said.
The department underscores that individuals can be asymptomatic, meaning that they have the disease but show only mild or no signs of it. Asymptomatic individuals, however, can infect others with the virus, including those with chronic medical conditions or compromised immune systems.
Following are the site locations and the times and dates that they will be available:
• Monticello Health & Fitness, 760 E. Washington St.: May 7, 14, 21 and 28; from 10 a.m. until noon each of the days.
• Aucilla Christian Academy, 7803 Aucilla Highway: May 8; from 10 a.m. until noon.
• Jefferson Health Department, 1255 West Washington St.: May 9 and 16; from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. each of the days.
• Piggly Wiggly, 575 South Jefferson St.: May 21; from 10 a.m. until noon.
• CVS Pharmacy, 1390 South Jefferson St.: May 11 and 18; from 10 a.m. until noon each of the days.
• Faith and Worship Ministries, 7337 Old Lloyd Rd.: May 15; from 10 a.m. until noon.
• Wacissa Pentecostal Holiness Church, 152 County Rd. 259: May 22; from 10 a.m. until noon
To register for the testing or for more information, call the FDOH-Jefferson at (850) 342-0170 and press option 2 for the front desk.
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