Augusta Health is launching a new coronavirus testing facility at Patriots Park in Columbia.

The new site will be a resource for those living in and north of Columbia. Augusta Health Vice President Dr. Philip Coule, CEO Katrina Keefer, and CIO Mallory Myers made the announcement on a Facebook live stream. The hospital cautioned, however, that the testing facility is only available to those who have been referred by a physician using their app.

"You don’t just show up for a test. We need people to go online and do a screening first," Coule said. "For those who need to be tested, this will be a great place to do that."

Those who download the Augusta Health screening app are directed to a video chat with a physician. Those who receive a positive screening will be scheduled for an appointment at the testing center.

Coule said the limited access is a precaution due to the limited availability of testing supplies.

"We’re focused on testing high risk individuals right now," Coule said. "We have a testing capability that most communities would be envious of, but it’s still limited. As testing becomes more available, we’ll certainly expand that."

Coule warned that the community could see a rise in cases in the next few days. He cautioned that part of that is due to an increased amount of testing.

"As we test more people, you might see a sharp rise," he said. "It’s just a new confirmation. We need to careful how we interpret the numbers."