Several major hospitals in Southeast Michigan are creating "drive-through" coronavirus test sites in adjacent parking lots or near their health care facilities under the theory that more testing will help contain the spread of COVID-19, Crain's has learned.

President Donald Trump announced Friday he wants hospitals to work more closely with the private sector to open up more drive-through testing collection sites in critical areas impacted by coronavirus. Public health officials believe the additional steps can help slow the coronavirus disease from spreading.

"We are trying to keep the infection rate down as low as we can possibly can, but we are preparing for the worst," said Rob Casalou, president and CEO of Livonia-based Trinity Health's Michigan region. "We're preparing for more cases being confirmed and more sick people. We don't know the numbers and don't know how long this outbreak will last."

Henry Ford Allegiance Hospital in Jackson and Beaumont Health hospitals in Royal Oak, Dearborn and Troy on Saturday began to offer "drive-through" coronavirus testing, spokespersons said.

Casalou said Trinity Health officials and other major health care leaders will meet with Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, Wayne County officials and other government members on Monday to plan out testing and community mitigation strategies.

"All the health systems are interested in us working with the city and the Wayne County and we will explore the possibility to be able to set up remote testing sites for people to be referred to," Casalou said. "We're setting up (drive-through testing sites) on our own campuses or near campuses. So they're not all up and running."

Brenda Craig, a spokesperson with Henry Ford Health System, said top system executives will also meet with Duggan Monday afternoon to develop a citywide response, including expanded test sites.

Craig also confirmed three patients have tested positive for COVID-19. It is unclear if the three additional coronavirus cases at Henry Ford are included in the 25 total reported by the state Friday night.

"Henry Ford Health System is reporting its first three patients who tested positive for COVID-19," the system said in a statement.

They include a female patient and a male patient who were discharged with instructions to stay home, monitor their symptoms and avoid contact with other family members. A male patient was hospitalized and is being discharged today in good condition.

"Our care teams are well-trained to provide safe and effective care during this public health emergency, and we have safety control measures in place to protect our patients, team members and visitors," Craig said in an email. "We are awaiting test results on other potential cases and are fully prepared to manage infected patients in all settings as this emergency progresses."

Beaumont Hospital Dearborn also confirmed its first COVID-19s inpatient, who is in good condition and in isolation, a spokesman said.

In addition, Beaumont hospitals in Royal Oak, Dearborn, Farmington Hills, Troy are currently offering limited curbside screening and evaluation for COVID-19. The tests are limited only for patients who have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath). Tests will be sent to a lab for analysis. Beaumont asked that people call the health system's COVID-19 hotline or a Beaumont doctor's office before attempting to get screened.

"We are offering this limited screening option to help reduce the spread of the virus. Many people who develop COVID-19 should stay home, drink lots of fluids, rest and take over-the-counter medications, like pain relievers. Please call ahead and talk with your physician or another health care provider before seeking treatment at a hospital or other health care facility," said Nick Gilpin, M.D., Beaumont's medical director of infection prevention and epidemiology.

Henry Ford Allegiance is offering limited hours for COVID-19 testing by opening a drive-through screening station located on the surface lot at 100 East Michigan Avenue in downtown Jackson.

Meanwhile, starting early next week, Casalou said nasal swabs will be taken at all Trinity hospital locations with the tests performed at St. Joseph Hospital's lab in Ann Arbor. He said St. Joseph is garnering permission to do its own coronavirus testing from the Food and Drug Administration.

Other hospitals, including University of Michigan and Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, also are pursuing FDA approval, Crain's reported Thursday.

"They'll (testing sites) be up and running in the next few days that will involve swab sampling," Casalou said. "We are also purchasing the equipment necessary to perform our own testing. ... Then we're developing a capability to get testing done quickly, even on site."

Drive-through testing is part of a "population testing" program for coronavirus that South Korea and Italy began in recent weeks. Hundreds of thousands of people have been tested for infections and public health investigators are using "contact tracing" to determine who people testing positive came into contact with.

But Casalou said local health care officials also need more support from the federal government.

"We're telling the federal government, we need two things," Casalou said. "We need testing kits, which have been promised by this government over and over again, and we still don't have them. So we're seeking our own avenues now to get testing done through the private sector. Number two, we need a supply chain that makes sure that we can protect our workers and that we have proper protective equipment, masks and gloves."

As of Friday night, Michigan state lab officials said 25 people have tested positive for coronavirus and 205 negative, with 26 pending results. Saturday's totals are expected to be released later today and those numbers are expected to rise significantly.

Regardless of how severe it might get in Michigan, Casalou said health systems are are going to suffer significant financial losses as elective patient care is postponed or canceled and the unknown costs of testing and treating COVID patients

"People are afraid now to come to their doctors or come to the hospital. We're going to take on all the financial burden of these patients, the testing, and we're going to lose all of our other activity," Casalou said.

"You're going to see hospital systems across the country just under tremendous financial strain. We're worrying about people right now, not about money. But I will tell you the financial impact on this, on the hospitals is going to be tremendous when it's all said and done," he said.