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Southwest Memorial Hospital set up a drive-thru flu clinic Wednesday to help screen for state testing of potential coronavirus cases.

The flu clinic will be at 1413 N. Mildred Road, and will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, according to Southwest Health System Facebook page. The clinic will continue for the next two weeks.

“The clinic is for people experiencing flu-like symptoms,” said Kerri White-Singleton, chief operating officer for Southwest Medical Group.

Symptoms include cough, fever, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, headaches and fatigue.

In an effort to prevent community spread of illnesses, testing will take place in your vehicle, White-Singleton said. Patients are asked to drive up to the clinic and call a number posted on the building. A provider will come out to the car to determine if a flu test is warranted.

The flu clinic is open from 8 a.m. to noon for those without a medical provider. From noon to 6 p.m., patients will need an order from their medical provider to receive the flu test. Please bring your identification and insurance information. The flu test costs $40, and if a coronavirus test is warranted, the cost is $5. Fees are waived for qualified low-income patients.

Results from the flu test takes 15-20 minutes. If a person tests positive for flu, they are likely negative for the COVID-19 coronavirus, hospital officials said.

If the flu test is negative, the medical provider will make the decision whether to offer the COVID-19 test. The sample will be sent to the Colorado Department of Health and Environment, where the patient information will be reviewed for possible coronavirus testing.

If a test for coronavirus is approved by CDPHE, results will take two to four days, and the patient will be notified by phone. If the test is positive for the coronavirus, the infected person is asked to practice social isolation practices and quarantine at home.

As of Wednesday, there were no reported confirmed cases of coronavirus in Montezuma County, White-Singleton said.

Prior to the flu clinic, the hospital had sent six suspected coronavirus samples to be tested by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, according to SHS officials. Five came back negative for the coronavirus and one result is pending.

Flu tests appreciatedMore than two dozen people took advantage of the drive-up flu test clinic Wednesday provided by Southwest Health System, officials said. Five nurses and medical assistants wearing protective clothing, gloves, face masks and face shields attended to the patients, who stayed in their vehicles for the test. Patients were directed to the testing area that had large signs, with instructions to call a phone number. The flu test involves taking a nasal swab sample.

There were 25 flu tests done, White-Singleton said. Most patients either had the flu or the common cold. But some were not positive for the flu and the symptoms met the criteria for further coronavirus testing, she said. Those samples were sent to the CDPHE for COVID-19 testing.

“People were very grateful for the drive-up service because of the convenience, and that they could get the test without going into a hospital or doctor’s office,” an employee said. “The process is going smoothly.”

SHS can test patients that meet the criteria for suspected coronavirus symptoms, but processing to determine positive or negative result is done by CDPHE or private labs.

SHS has “several hundred” test kits for the flu or for a potential coronavirus sample if the patient qualifies, said CEO Tony Sudduth, and more tests are available from other local and state sources should they be needed.

“The fact is we have more then enough tests to test those that meet the criteria and have no concern in having this ability going forward,” he said in a community letter. “As for test results, to-date we do not have any confirmed positive cases in this area.”

He added that testing for coronavirus must meet the standard criteria, otherwise it is discarded by CDPHE. If there were a positive test for coronavirus, the information will be released by the Montezuma County Health Department.

Hospital officials ask that people who aren’t experiencing flu-like symptoms to stay away from hospitals and clinics.

Patients requiring routine lab work are instructed to go to 111 N. Park St., and not go to the hospital or clinics for the tests.

The hospital coronavirus information number is 970-564-2201. SHS is conducting daily live Facebook updates at 4:30 p.m., where information is presented and the community can ask questions and get a response.

jmimiaga@ the-journal.com