EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – Drive-thru COVID-19 testing is now being offered by the MD Medical Group at its Northeast clinic.

With more cases rising in El Paso county the pediatric group in charge of MD’s drive-thru facility said there’s a need for more testing sites.

“It’s really important to us to know who has it in our community, so we know how widespread it is and what the risk is to everybody and so the more we can test the better knowledge we will have and the better prepared to equip everyone,” said Family Pediatrician Jessica Rymer.

At the drive-thru, location patients with COVID-19 symptoms will first be tested for strep or the flu.

those results will then determine if the COVID-19 test is needed.

“We’re trying to ration the tests because there is a shortage and using them when they are appropriate and that’s the reason why it will be up to the provider and depending whether the strep or the flu is positive,” said Dr. Rymer.

She explained 150 tests are available each day across their other clinics in the city. Each test takes about 3-5 days for the results to get back.

“The decision to offer drive-thru testing protects the patients we will continue to serve at our clinics— children, their family members with underlying medical conditions—and our employees during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic,” a news release said.

The news release states that MD Medical Group is following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, as well as what state and other experts say.