HOUSTON — Houston health officials announced Monday anyone interested in being tested for coronavirus, regardless if they're showing symptoms, can now be serviced at both the city's COVID-19 drive-thru testing sites.
But wait, don't rush over yet! It doesn't mean they're accepting walk-ins, you'll have to call the COVID-19 call center at 832-393-4220 a head of your visit.
The community sites only accept people with the identification code obtained through the department’s COVID-19 call center. The call center hours are 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. daily.
These tests are free to the public.
City officials said testing site staff will only collect insurance information, and information obtained through testing or services will not be used against immigrants in their public charge evaluation.
The announcement comes as Houston continues to expand its daily testing capacity, starting Tuesday, testing will be doubled to 500 individuals a day at each site.
OTHER CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES ON KHOU.COM
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Coronavirus symptoms
The symptoms of coronavirus can be similar to the flu or a bad cold. Symptoms include a fever, cough and shortness of breath, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Some patients also have nausea, body aches, headaches and stomach issues. Losing your sense of taste and/or smell can also be an early warning sign.
Most healthy people will have mild symptoms. A study of more than 72,000 patients by the Centers for Disease Control in China showed 80 percent of the cases there were mild.
But infections can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death, according to the World Health Organization. Older people with underlying health conditions are most at risk for becoming seriously ill. However, U.S. experts are seeing a significant number of younger people being hospitalized, including some in ICU.
The CDC believes symptoms may appear anywhere from two to 14 days after being exposed.
Human coronaviruses are usually spread through...
- The air by coughing or sneezing
- Close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands
- Touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose or eyes before washing your hands.
Help stop the spread of coronavirus
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Eat and sleep separately from your family members
- Use different utensils and dishes
- Cover your cough or sneeze with your arm, not your hand.
- If you use a tissue, throw it in the trash.
- Follow social distancing
Lower your risk
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
- If you are 60 or over and have an underlying health condition such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes or respiratory illnesses like asthma or COPD, the World Health Organization advises you to try to avoid crowds or places where you might interact with people who are sick.
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