As coronavirus cases in New Jersey continue to spike, many people have questions about where to find testing sites, who should get tested and what to expect if you do get tested for the fast-spreading virus.

A few testing sites have already opened in the Garden State, with more on the way in the coming days, officials say.

Here’s everything you should know about COVID-19 testing in New Jersey, where at least 742 cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed, nine of which have been fatal.

Will I need a prescription to get tested in New Jersey?

State health officials say people will need to show symptoms of a respiratory illness in order to get tested at the two government-run testing sites that are being set up in New Jersey.

People will not need to get a prescription or a permission slip from a doctor, officials said during a coronavirus briefing Thursday afternoon. Those who show up at the state-run testing sites will be screened for symptoms, and if they are deemed to be asymptomatic — showing no obvious signs of the coronavirus — they will not be tested.

“This is not for the worried well,” Gov. Phil Murphy said.

Health officials said residents must bring state identification, such as a driver’s license, to the testing facilities. And if your doctor has given you a prescription for the testing, bring it, even though it is not required.

Some privately-run testing sites, like Riverside Medical Group’s drive-thru site, have a pre-screening process. Patients have to call in to be screened by an expert at Riverside, and the tests are for Riverside patients only.

If they meet the CDC’s criteria for testing, an appointment is made.

The CDC recommends seeking medical attention immediately if a person exhibits the following symptoms:

Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

Persistent pain or pressure in the chest

New confusion or inability to arouse

Bluish lips or face

Where are coronavirus testing sites located?

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will assist New Jersey in setting up and running new COVID-19 testing sites. So far there are already privately-run testing sites located at Riverside Medical Group’s command center and Hudson Regional Hospital in Secaucus. Both are drive-thru testing sites.

New Jersey, in conjunction with FEMA, is expected to open two new sites in the next few days — one at Bergen County Community College in Paramus and another at PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel.

Dr. Stephanie Arteta-Corpron speaks to a patient inside a car prior to administering a COVID-19 test at a drive-up coronavirus testing facility at Riverside Medical Group in Secaucus. Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

When will the N.J. testing sites open?

The Bergen County Community College location is set to open Friday morning, March 20, and will have the ability to take 2,500 specimens a week, according to State Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli. The Holmdel testing site is slated to open by next week.

The Bergen testing facility will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., seven days a week.

In addition to these testing sites, coronavirus tests are also being conducted at Hackensack Meridian Hospital and the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, as well as different hospitals, private companies and state labs.

What should you expect when you show up for a coronavirus test?

At New Jersey’s drive-thru testing centers, people are given a scheduled time to show up. Once they get there, they just roll down their windows, and they’ll be tested for both influenza and COVID-19.

Healthcare workers at these sites take a long Q-tip and swab both nostrils, collecting material from the nasopharyngeal region of the nose (where the nose and throat meet).

Influenza results come back within 10 to 15 minutes, while it could take four to five days for COVID-19 results to come back. Patients are asked to self-quarantine until their results are known.

Here’s a video walkthrough of a drive-thru testing site in New Jersey:

What type of tests are needed to diagnose someone with COVID-19?

According to the CDC, clinical and commercial laboratories get COVID-19 testing supplies from the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Here’s what the FDA says about the type of tests used to diagnose someone with coronavirus:

“The CDC 2019-Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Real-Time RT-PCR Diagnostic Panel is a real-time RT-PCR test intended for the qualitative detection of nucleic acid from the 2019-nCoV in upper and lower respiratory specimens (such as nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal swabs, sputum, lower respiratory tract aspirates, bronchoalveolar lavage, and nasopharyngeal wash/aspirate or nasal aspirate) collected from individuals who meet 2019-nCoV clinical and/or epidemiological criteria.”

This means healthcare workers will swab a patient’s nose or throat to collect material that may have been in the lungs, where the infection is believed by experts to replicate, according to Wired.

How much will a coronavirus test cost at government-run testing sites?

State officials have not yet said how much it will cost to receive a coronavirus test at government-run testing sites.

Some health insurance companies, like AmeriHealth New Jersey, says it will cover and reimburse member cost-sharing (such as copays, deductibles, and coinsurance) for the COVID-19 test and the administration of the test when performed at a physician’s office, urgent care center, or an emergency room.

Tennyson Donnie Coleman may be reached at tcoleman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @TennysonTV. Find him on Facebook. Have a tip? Let us know at nj.com/tips.