With only roughly 1% of Florida residents tested for the novel coronavirus, Lakeland Regional Health is offering a new opportunity for city residents with testing site at the RP Funding Center.

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LAKELAND — With only roughly 1% of Florida residents tested for the novel coronavirus, Lakeland Regional Health is offering a new opportunity for city residents.

Lakeland Regional Health is partnering with the City of Lakeland to open a drive-thru testing site beginning Monday at the RP Funding Center, located at 701 W. Lime St. It will be open weekdays as long as testing kits are available.

“The City recognizes the concern of citizens who suspect they may have been exposed to or have symptoms of the virus,” Mayor Bill Mutz said in a press statement. “Working alongside Lakeland Regional Health, this drive-thru testing center will give citizens safe and simple access to a COVID-19 test.”

There have been 4,765 Polk County residents tested as of Friday morning, with 311 positive cases found, according to state health department reports. That’s roughly 0.67% of the county’s total population based on 2018 estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Adults age 18 and over can get tested at the drive-thru site by appointment only and must be referred by a doctor. To schedule an appointment, patients can have their doctors email CentralScheduling@myLRH.org or fax the order to 863-687-1106.

“Because not all care providers in the area have access to the swab-testing kits needed for COVID-19 testing, we felt that opening a drive-thru testing center would provide our community with a much-needed COVID-19 testing option that is both safe and convenient,” Danielle Drummond, Lakeland Regional Health president and CEO-elect, said in a statement.

At the RP Funding Center, patients should stay in their cars and follow the posted signs around the building for Check-In, Registration and Swabbing stations. Patients will be asked to wear a mask, and all health care workers will be dressed in full personal protective equipment. The process is anticipated to take 15 minutes.

Individuals with coronavirus symptoms, such as fever, coughing and fatigue, who do not have a script to get tested can call Lakeland Regional’s new dedicated telehealth COVID-19 service at myLRH.amwell.com beginning Sunday. The self-pay telehealth visit costs $49.

Walk-in appointments are also available at Lakeland Regional’s respiratory care clinic at its Pablo Campus, located at 130 Pablo St. in Lakeland. COVID-19 testing is provided at the clinic after clinical evaluation.

All samples collected at the drive-thru site will be sent out to commercial laboratories for testing. Patients will be notified directly of their results.

More information on Lakeland Regional’s drive-thru testing can be found online at mylrh.org/drivethrutesting

Sara-Megan Walsh can be reached at swalsh@theledger.com or 863-802-7545.