COVID-19 Drive-Thru Testing for Patients with Referrals

Press release from City of Gainesville

The City of Gainesville and Alachua County are pleased to report that we have expanded our COVID-19 testing capabilities to include a drive-thru testing site. This site will limit public contact between residents and protect healthcare professionals. At this time, the Department of Health is only offering testing by appointment to patients who have been referred by a physician.  

This is a positive development in our mitigation strategy, but it’s vital for everyone to understand that CDC testing criteria remains in place. Neighbors must go through a screening process and receive a testing order. 

Our testing resources must be used in a way that helps us contain the spread by testing strategically. Testing is not a vaccination, and the purpose of testing is to help us implement our mitigation strategy. 

Testing has been, and will continue to be, most commonly recommended for individuals in an at-risk group due to age or preexisting conditions and for those whose symptoms have worsened while practicing self-quarantine.

Those with questions or concerns about COVID-19, including testing, should call their doctor or the Alachua County Health Department’s call center at 352-334-8810. Operators are available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday (after hours call 352-334-7900). The County’s 311 Critical Information Line is also available to answer questions.