COVID-19 Microsite | Sanford, FL
AT-HOME SAMPLE COLLECTION
As of April 22, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized the first diagnostic test with a home collection option for COVID-19. The test kits include a swab for nasal self-sample collection and saline which can be mailed in an insulated package to a LabCorp lab for testing. These kits will be available to consumers in most states, with a doctor’s order, in the coming weeks.
COMMUNITY TEST SITES LOCATED IN SANFORD
•Seminole County, in partnership with True Health and Florida Department of Health-Seminole, will launch Community Test Sites beginning Tuesday, April 21, 2020.
•Testing will be offered at a single location from 10:00a.m. until 2:00p.m. on weekdays; locations will vary by date, a schedule is pending for Community Test Sites in the communities of East Altamonte, Midway, Goldsboro, Lincoln Heights, Bookertown, Georgetown and Jamestown.
•Testing will be outdoors; patients can drive up to be tested while in their cars. If patients do not have vehicles, they may also walk up for testing.
•REQUIREMENTS: Must bring government issued I.D., patients do not have to exhibit symptoms
•COST: Free of charge; patients with insurance should bring insurance cards
•APPOINTMENTS: No appointments necessary
Midway Community
Midway Community Center
2251 Jitway Ave. Sanford
Wednesday 4/22
Goldsboro Community
Westside Community Center
919 S Persimmon Ave. Sanford
Thursday 4/23
Bookertown Community
Bookertown Community Center
4631 Gilbert Street Sanford
Monday 4/27
Georgetown Community
Historic Sanford Stadium
1201 Mellonville Ave. Sanford
Tuesday 4/28
Lincoln Heights/ Lockhart Community
Journeys Academy Parking Lot
1722 W Airport Blvd. Sanford
Thursday 4/30
DRIVE THRU REGIONAL TESTING SITES
Altamonte Mall Drive Thru Test Site Opens April 27, 2020
Allied Health, a non-profit provider, in partnership with Seminole County and the City of Altamonte Springs, is offering a Drive Thru Test Site at Altamonte Mall daily from Monday, April 27 through Saturday, May 2, with up to 250 tests administered per day.
Patients must make a reservation in order to be tested. Testing “fast passes” are offered for patients making reservations, allowing the patient to arrive anytime during their “fast past” hour window. As of 7:00a.m., only 150 appointments remained.
The drive thru will be located on the first floor of the parking garage adjacent to the AMC Theater. Patients should enter at Essex Avenue/Mall Drive from East Altamonte Drive.
There is no charge for this service, regardless of insurance status. Insured patients should bring their insurance card so that Allied Health may reconcile costs with insurance providers.
• Address: 451 East Altamonte Drive, Altamonte Springs
• Dates/Times: Monday, April 27 through Saturday, May 2, 9:00 a.m.-5:00p.m.
• Criteria: Patient should be either a first responder/healthcare worker, symptomatic or have had contact with COVID-positive patient
• Requirements: Must have identification, bring insurance card if insured; accepting all patients regardless of insurance status (uninsured, underinsured and insured)
• Cost: No co-pay, no charge regardless of insurance status
• Appointments: Appointments required; get a Testing Fast Pass by visiting https://covidtest.eventbrite.com. Testing Fast Passes offer a one-hour window to show up for testing
o Appointments can also be made by calling 407-665-0000
Sanford Drive Thru Test Site
- Testing will be at the Seminole Town Center starting at 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 21 DRIVE THRU TESTING CLOSED 4/24/2020 -The AdventHealth Drive Thru Test Site is closed today, due to severe weather. Patients may continue to make appointments for the final day of operation in Sanford at the Seminole Towne Center, which is Monday, April 27, 2020. Visit adventhealthcovidtesting.com to make an appointment.
- The site will be open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., or as long as testing supplies are available.
- Results can be expected in approximately 2-3 days. Those tested will receive a text message with instructions on how to retrieve the results. Those who test positive will receive a call from a nurse to review the results.
- The tests will be available to anyone who meets the criteria for testing, as set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The criteria for testing have recently expanded to include anyone who has had close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, even if they are not currently experiencing symptoms. A doctor’s order is not required for testing.
- There will be no out-of-pocket costs, regardless of insurance status. AdventHealth will cover the cost of those who are uninsured.
- Those who are symptomatic and wish to be tested should visit AdventHealthCoronaVirusTesting.com prior to arrival.
Orange County Regional Test Site
Sanford residents may visit Orange County Convention Center (North Concourse Parking Lot) at 9400 Universal Boulevard Orlando to be tested without charge. Map and Directions
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that beginning Monday, April 13, the COVID-19 Community-based Test Site at the Orange County Convention Center, run by the Department of Health and Human Services and FEMA, will convert to a state-operated site run by the Florida Department of Emergency Management. This will increase test capacity and expand testing criteria in Central Florida. The site is available for all residents free of charge.
The site now supports a daily limit of 750 swabs for testing daily. Additionally, testing criteria has expanded to include the following:
- Individuals with respiratory symptoms (regardless of age) or with preexisting conditions, including but not limited to:
- Cardiovascular disease
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- Chronic lung disease
- Cancer
- Chronic kidney disease
- Autoimmune disease
- All first responders and health care workers, including any staff members of long-term care facilities.
- Individuals who believe they have been in close contact with an individual who has tested positive, even if they are not currently experiencing symptoms.
The site opens daily at 9:00a.m. and will remain open until 5:00p.m. or until 400 individuals have been swabbed.
You must have a photo ID to be tested. For those who visit the site, please bring a government-issued ID and insurance card (if insured, no co-pay will be charged). Test results will not be provided on-site. Please DO NOT call Orange County Convention Center for information.
STEPS FOR TESTING
COVID-19 tests are only facilitated with a physician’s order for patients who meet the evaluation criteria as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Physicians are stringently adhering to the testing criteria set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to determine if a patient qualifies for a COVID-19 test. A doctor will likely test you for other illnesses, such as the flu, before ordering a COVID-19 test. Unless you are experiencing severe respiratory distress, such as shortness of breath or chest pain, you should not go to an ER for a COVID-19 test.
1. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER
- Healthcare providers include primary care physicians, providers at urgent care centers, and telemedicine providers
- If you develop symptoms such as fever, cough, and/or difficulty breathing, and have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19 or have recently traveled from an area with ongoing spread of COVID-19, stay home and call your healthcare provider
- Older patients and individuals who have severe underlying medical conditions or are immunocompromised should contact their healthcare provider early, even if their illness is mild
- If you have severe symptoms, such as persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion, or bluish lips or face, contact your healthcare provider or emergency room and seek care immediately
2. YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER WILL DETERMINE IF YOU NEED TO BE TESTED
- Your healthcare provider will determine if you have signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and whether you should be tested
- You will be screened with a number of questions
- Individuals cannot come to an hospital, physician practice or urgent care center and order their own COVID-19 test
3. IF YOU NEED TO BE TESTED, AN ORDER WILL BE GIVEN FOR YOU TO BE TESTED
- Results are not instantaneous. Unlike a flu test, which can be administered on-site with quick results, the COVID-19 test takes up to seven days from the time of collection sample to results being shared with the patient. During that time, patients will be instructed to follow CDC guidelines and isolate themselves.
- If you are sick with COVID-19 or suspect you are infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, you should take steps to help prevent the disease from spreading to people in your home and community. Follow CDC guidance.
LOW OR NO-COST HEALTHCARE
Low-cost or no-cost healthcare is available for uninsured and under-insured individuals and families. Florida Department of Health-Seminole offers the below resources; CALL BEFORE YOU VISIT.
- True Health, 407-322-8645, https://mytruehealth.org/
- Accepting all patients, please call in advance
- American Muslim Clinic, 407-588-0556, https://amssclinic.org/
- Accepting patients with no insurance, must meet income criteria
- Visit website for appointment availability
- Testing not available on site
- Shepherd’s Hope, 407-876-6699, http://www.shepherdshope.org/
- Not accepting new patients; existing patients only
Private Test Specimen Collection Sites, MUST CALL AHEAD
AdventHealth Altamonte
AdventHealth CentraCare Altamonte Springs
CareSpot Altamonte
HCA- Heathrow ER
AdventHealth CentraCare Longwood
Orlando Health South Seminole
Urgent Care of Longwood
AdventHealth Lake Mary ER
Orlando Health Lake Mary ER
AdventHealth CentraCare Kids Lake Mary
AdventHealth CentraCare Lake Mary
CareNow Lake Mary
CareSpot Lake Mary
AdventHealth Oviedo ER
AdventHealth CentraCare Oveido
CareSpot Oviedo
First Choice Urgent Care Oviedo
HCA- Oviedo Medical Center
AdventHealth CentraCare Sanford
CareNow Sanford
HCA- Central Florida Regional Hospital
Nemours Children’s Urgent Care
CareNow Winter Springs
