The region’s first drive-up testing for the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, began Tuesday at the University of Dayton Arena parking lot. The testing is for patients who received doctor’s orders for the test based on symptoms, contact with someone who has tested positive or overseas travel.
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Public Health - Dayton & Montgomery County Commissioner Jeff Cooper continued Tuesday to emphasize the importance that sick people should stay home if they have symptoms, which will help keep the disease from spreading and overwhelming health systems.
Most people with symptoms will be able to care for themselves at home.
People should call their doctor when they are sick to the point that they can no longer care for themselves at home.
Older people and those with other underlying health conditions should contact their doctor early if feeling sick with symptoms that could be COVID-19, the CDC advises.
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As the virus spreads, it will hit these at risk groups harder than others.
"We have to do our part as healthy individuals to protect them," Cooper said at an afternoon press conference. "That's our civic duty. So it's a sense of urgency that we have as a community now. This is not make believe. This isn't something that's made up that we're asking individuals to do. This virus is spreading rapidly through this community, this state, and this country."
At the Dayton drive-up site on Tuesday 235 people sought testing, said Sharon Howard, director of site communications for Premier Health. There were 107 people tested for the flu, and 16 came back positive. She said 219 specimens were sent to be tested for COVID-19 but the results won’t be available for 24 to 48 hours. Fifty people were declined because they didn’t have a physician order for the test.
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