CAPE CORAL, Fla -- A growing number of COVID-19 mobile collection sites and mobile triage tents are popping up in Southwest Florida, as the virus continues to spread.
Lee Health wants to make sure people understand the difference between the two. One is for testing for the coronavirus, whereas the other is for screening.
The mobile collection sites you see at Page Field, for example, are where you're able to drive-thru and have healthcare workers take a specimen to test you for the virus.
The triage tents you'll see outside of the emergency departments are different. There is no specimen collection there. The units are for screening patients for signs of respiratory illness before they enter the emergency department.That way, they can isolate them from the general population, and continue limiting the spread of the virus.
A mobile triage unit has been operating at Lee Memorial Hospital, and Lee Health just expanded the units to its other hospitals over the weekend.
According to NCH, triage tents will be set up and ready for use starting Monday outside their emergency departments as well.
If your doctor has said that you do need to be tested for COVID-19, a new drive-thru collection site is opening Monday morning at Cape Coral Sports Complex. It will be open seven days a week, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
You do need a doctor's order and an appointment to be tested.
