PHCC widens virus testing with a priority on the elderly and those at higher risk
PHCC opens 3 drive through swabbing hubs for Covid-19
As part of the country’s wide efforts to manage the Covid-19 outbreak, PHCC will be operating 3 drive through swabbing hubs at three PHCC Health Centers.
Beginning on Sunday May 31, Al Waab, Al Thumama and Leabaib health centres will operate Covid-19 Drive Through swabbing hubs. Each Health Center will be operating the drive through testing between the hours of 2pm and 10pm initially, with a view to extend hours at a later date, should this be necessary.
This expansion of PHCC already existing testing facilities is a further steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, but will also increase the early detection of COVID19 especially amongst those at higher risk will help target the disease in its early stage, preventing its progression to the severe cases, as well as slowing down community viral spread.
Increasing testing capacity within the community also builds data that will capture virus rates allowing for further enhancement in the response to COVD19.
PIC: HMC Twitter
These temporary drive through swabbing hubs are accessible by invitation only. Patients have been selected and given priority based on three criteria, those that have been in contact with COVID19 patients, are elderly, or have underlying health issues. Only invited patients can attend the test facilities. Patients will be contacted by telephone and receive an SMS appointment confirmation from PHCC with a date, time slot and location. They will be required to show their QID to verify their invitation on arrival.
This is not a drop-in service and only those who meet the nationally agreed criteria and have been asked to attend will be given the test.
Those referred to the drive through swabbing hubs will arrive in their own car and will not enter the building. They will be registered and asked a series of questions for verification purposes, then proceed to be swabbed by specially trained Health Worker.
The swabbing process will involve a cotton bud being inserted into the nose, the sample will then be securely stored and transported to HMC Laboratory for analysis.
Once they are swabbed at one of the drive through hubs, they will receive results from the Ministry of Public Health by phone if positive and by SMS if negative.
Members of the public called for the test because they have been in contact with COVID19 positive patients are suspected COVID19 patients and are advised to self-isolate for 14 days and whist they are waiting for results.
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