Operating drive-through swabbing hubs is a further step towards helping prevent the spread of Covid-19 and boosting chances of early detection, the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) has stressed.
The PHCC is operating invitation-only drive-through swabbing hubs at three health centres as part of the countrywide efforts to control the Covid-19 outbreak.
The Covid-19 drive-through swabbing hubs are being operated at the Al Waab, Al Thumama and Leabaib health centres between 2pm and 10pm.
“We would like to thank all those who attended the successful first day of Covid-19 Drive-Through swabbing hubs at Al Waab, Al Thumama and Leabaib health centres,” the PHCC tweeted yesterday.
This expansion of the PHCC’s testing facilities is another step towards helping curb the spread of Covid-19 and also increase the early detection of cases - especially among those at higher risk. This would “help target the disease in its early stage, preventing its progression to severe cases as well as slowing down community spread”, the corporation noted.
The PHCC also reminded people that the drive-through swabbing is an invitation-only service. One must receive a phone call to avail of it.
According to an earlier report, people have been selected and given priority based on three criteria: those who have been in contact with Covid-19 patients, the elderly as well as those with underlying health issues.
Patients will be contacted by telephone and receive an SMS appointment confirmation from PHCC with a date, time slot and location. They will be required to show their QID to verify their invitation on arrival.
Those referred to the drive-through swabbing hubs are to arrive in their own vehicle and not enter the building. They will be registered and asked a series of questions for verification purposes, then proceed to be swabbed by specially trained health worker.
Once swabbed, the individuals concerned will receive results from the Ministry of Public Health by phone if positive and by SMS if negative.