Mercy is opening its first drive-through novel coronavirus (COVID-19) test collection site in an effort to create more widely available testing resources in our communities. The first site will open Saturday, March 14 at the Mercy Virtual Care Center, 15740 S. Outer Forty Road in Chesterfield, Missouri. Patients in St. Louis are required to call Mercy’s clinical support line at 314-251-0500 to be screened, and if appropriate, proceed to the test collection site.
“This drive-through testing site will prevent unnecessary exposure to our patients and caregivers in our hospitals and clinics,” said Donn Sorensen, Mercy’s executive vice president of operations who is leading COVID-19 response across Mercy. “By directing at-risk people to this site, Mercy will limit the traffic to our hospitals and clinics. The safety of our patients, visitors and co-workers is of the utmost importance.”
Patients will first call Mercy’s clinical support line at 314-251-0500 to be screened, and if appropriate, proceed to the test collection site. Mercy will collect a sample and send it to the designated lab, the state health department or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Results may take several days. There will be a cost associated with the testing; it’s unknown if commercial insurance or government funding will cover any of the cost.
While COVID-19 is spread from person to person, more than 80% of the patients who develop it will only become mildly ill. The concern is for patients with underlying medical conditions and the elderly, who are more likely to need hospital-level supportive care.
People with COVID-19 do not have a runny nose or nasal congestion. Symptoms to be aware of include:
100.4 fever or higher - 90% will have fever.
Dry cough - 70% will have a dry cough.
Shortness of breath – for those who become more acutely ill.
CLICK HERE for more information from Mercy’s COVID-19 response webpage.