Cape May County opening testing site

Cape May County will open a drive-thru testing site for COVID-19 beginning next Wednesday.The appointment-only site is a partnership between the county Department of Health and Complete Care Health Network.It will be open Wednesdays, for county residents and Complete Care patients.Only those who meet certain criteria will be given appointments, including symptoms of fever, cough and shortness of breath.Symptomatic first-responders who are residents of the county will be given priority testing. “Most individuals have mild symptoms and are able to recover at home," Health Officer Kevin Thomas said. "If you can maintain your symptoms at home, we urge you to do so. Testing requires personal protective equipment, which we want to preserve for our first-responders.”Those residents who believe they are eligible can go to CompleteCareNJ.org/COVID19 or call 609-465-0258, and ask for a screening.Once an individual is approved for testing a prescription will be electronically sent to the health department and Cape May County Department of Health will call the patient with an appointment time and location.The location of the testing site will only be given to individuals who are approved for testing and have been given the proper prcedures.Those who are not Complete Care patients should first get a prescription from their doctor, then go to completecarenj.org and

1. Read statement, and click I understand
2. Click request an appointment on right of screen
3. Complete requested information
4. Await call from Complete Care staff to go over symptoms
5. Complete Care will forward script to Health Department Health Department staff will call and schedule the appointment

Those tested will be informed of their results in a timely manner. There is no vaccine or treatment currently for COVID-19.

Steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 if you are sick include:

• Stay home except to get medical care. Most individuals with COVID-19 have mild illness and can recover at home without medical care. It is important that you do not leave your home, except to get medical care.
• Stay in touch with your doctor. Call before you get medical care. Make sure you to get care if you are having trouble breathing.
• Monitor your symptoms. Common symptoms include fever and cough. Trouble breathing is a more serious symptom that means you should get medical attention but call first.
• Do not visit public places and avoid public transportation.
• Separate yourself from other people in your home, this is known as “homeisolation”. You want to stay away from others as much as possible. Create a “sick room”if possible.
• Call your doctor ahead before visiting. Many medical visits for routine care are beingpostponed or done by phone or telemedicine.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes.
• Clean your hands often. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with atleast 60 percent alcohol.
• Avoid sharing personal household items.
• Clean all “high-touch” surfaces every day.

CompleteCare is not testing patients for COVID-19 at its health centers.