First Care offering COVID-19 testing

Published 8:17 pm Monday, April 20, 2020

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COVID-19 testing is now available at a number of urgent care clinics, including one in Winchester.

First Care Urgent Care made the announcement Monday.

According to a news release, testing is available during regular hours for patients showing symptoms.

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Patients will be screened upon arrival including a health history, a virtual exam with a provider and a nasal swab, if it is deemed necessary. They may also be tested for flu and strep throat to rule out those illnesses.

At this point, testing is not available to patients without symptoms because of limited testing supplies.

Anyone who feels they should be tested is asked to register online for the day of their visit at firstcareclinics.com/locations. A limited number of tests are available each day.

Results usually take from one to three days.

The clinics are still open to treating non-COVID related patients.

COVID-19, flu and cold patients will be treated at curbside, rather than in the clinic.

A recent partnership between Kentucky and Kroger will offer free drive-through testing sites at several locations throughout the state. Beginning today, testing will be available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays in Madisonville, Paducah, Somerset and Pikeville.

The store chain also started testing at its Frankfort and Kenton County locations last week.

About Fred Petke

Fred Petke is a reporter for The Winchester Sun, the Jessamine Journal and the State Journal. His beats include cops, courts, fire, public records, city and county government and other news. To contact Fred, email fred.petke@bluegrassnewsmedia.com or call 859-759-0051.

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