A doctor at Stanford Health Care testing for COVID-19 at a drive-through testing clinic in Stanford, California. A similar drive-through center will be set up at the old Christus Spohn Memorial Hospital on Thursday, March 19. Photo courtesy of Stanford Health Care

EDITOR’S NOTE: If you think you have the coronavirus, please contact the Corpus Christi-Nueces County Public Health District at 361-826-7200, and a representative will give you instructions. Check the city’s website for more information.



Drive-through testing for the coronavirus should be available as of Thursday, March 19, in Corpus Christi, city officials announced. The drive-through process had a practice run Sunday at the old Spohn Memorial Hospital building, 2606 Hospital Blvd. Patients can be tested without leaving their cars.



The city of Corpus Christi and Nueces County have declared local states of disaster due to public health emergency in the wake of the World Health Organization declaring COVID-19, a new coronavirus outbreak, a global pandemic. A pandemic is a disease prevalent over a whole country or the world.



As of Monday, March 15, no known cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Corpus Christi or South Texas.



Only individuals showing symptoms of COVID-19 will be tested. Anyone with symptoms consistent with the virus should first call the Public Health Department at 361-826-7200 for an over-the-phone assessment. Patients who meet the Centers for Disease Control criteria will be directed to the drive-through testing site. Do not visit the location without an appointment, officials said in a news release.



“This two-step self-assessment and telephone screening process is critical to ensure efficient and timely treatment to those who need attention,” said Public Health Director Annette Rodriguez. “Those meeting the symptoms criteria then will be given information on testing. It’s important to keep in mind that we do not have a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the area. This is an effort to stay ahead of the spread.”



Symptoms of coronavirus are:



• shortness of breath



• fever above 100 degrees



• dry cough



• gradual onset of 2-14 days



• sometimes headaches



• sometimes aches and pains



• mild sneezing



• sometimes fatigue, but not predominate as with the flu



• diarrhea is rare



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