Testing update: Wilmington, Claymont, Smyrna Rite Aid

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While the focus has been on portions of Sussex County, stepped up testing is getting underway in other areas affected by coronavirus.

Events will include focused testing in communities be affected by COVID-19, rather than large-scale drive-up events.

Further testing in Wilmington

Plans are underway by the Wilmington Community COVID-19 Mobilization Group in conjunction with city and state governments and St. Francis Hospital to open additional health assessment and test sites around the city. More information will be announced on Monday concerning the locations.

The sites will be in addition to the ChristianaCare sites below

ChristianaCare works to  improve test availability
 
ChristianaCare is working to overcome disparities in COVID-19 testing and increase accessibility through clinics that combine virtual primary care and COVID-19 testing in some of Wilmington’s underserved communities.

Sites at the Latin American Community Center and Kingswood Community Center are the first two of a model that ChristianaCare expects to expand to other neighborhoods based on assessments of community need.

“Globally, there are racial and ethnic disparities related to COVID-19 infection and outcomes,” said Erin Booker, LPC, vice president of Community Health and Engagement at ChristianaCare. “These sites are an important way that we can bring care and testing to our neighbors who may face barriers such as lack of transportation, limited ability to speak English, lack of a primary care provider or other obstacles that prevent them from getting the care they need.”

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During a screening at one of these sites, patients have their vital signs taken by a nurse or medical assistant on-site before beginning a virtual visit with a doctor or nurse practitioner via an iPad. After the virtual screening, the provider determines if the patient needs to be tested for COVID-19.

If so, a nurse or medical assistant performs a nasal swab. Test results return in three to four days, and patients are then notified by phone. Test results are also provided to the Delaware Division of Public Health.

Medical interpreters from ChristianaCare’s Language Services team are available to assist individuals in Spanish or other languages as needed.

The Latin American Community Center is at 301 N. Harrison Street. The center is open for screening and testing on Mondays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Patients are encouraged to make an appointment before arriving for a screening, but walk-ins are also accepted. For an appointment, call 302-320-6439.

The Kingswood Community Center is at 2300 Bowers Street. It is open for screening and testing on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Patients are encouraged to make an appointment before arriving for a screening, but walk-ins are also accepted. For an appointment, call 302-428-6586.

Claymont testing  on May 5

ChristianaCare is offering a free COVID-19 drive-thru/walk-up screening and testing site on Tuesday, May 5, 8:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. at Claymont Elementary School, 3401 Green St for Claymont residents and those in surrounding Delaware communities with symptoms.

Symptoms include cough, fever, difficulty breathing, body aches, vomiting/diarrhea or loss of taste/smell. An ID is needed.  No testing order is needed. For more information visit https://christianacare.org/serv…/covid-19-community-testing/

Rite Aid no longer requiring doctor’s note for Smyrna tests

Rite Aid  expanded COVID-19 testing criteria to include all individuals 18 and older exhibiting any of the following symptoms: fever, cough, shortness of breath, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, and new loss of taste or smell.

Rite Aid currently offers self-swab testing sites at 25 store locations across eight states through its partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Smyrna is one of Rite Aid’s self-testing sites that are open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. seven days a week. Each site has the capacity to conduct approximately 400 tests daily through online appointments.

All Rite Aid drive-up COVID-19 self-testing sites utilize self-swab nasal tests overseen by Rite Aid pharmacists. Testing sites are located in store parking lots, and patients are required to remain in their vehicles from the time they arrive until the time they depart.

Patients are required to provide government-issued identification, be at least 18 years old and need to pre-register online at www.riteaid.com in order to schedule a time slot for testing.

The Smyrna location is at 200 Pharmacy Drive in Smyrna. A major employer in the Smyrna area is the James Vaughn Correctional Institution. While Vaughn has not seen a major outbreak of COVID-19, correctional officers and inmates have tested positive.

Vaughn itself has an aggressive testing program.

 

 
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