Coronavirus Test Collection Center to reduce hours beginning Friday

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – The community-wide Coronavirus Test Collection Center will reduce hours beginning Friday, April 10. The Center will now be open Monday through Friday, 1 pm to 6 pm.

“We have seen a steady decrease in the number of tests performed at the Center due to the accessibility at other testing locations throughout our region and the fact that our community is taking the shelter in place order very seriously,” said Jimmy Wilferth, Vice President of Foundation and Marketing at Saint Francis Healthcare System. “We are taking care of ourselves and it shows. We are pleased to offer this service to our community while we continue to be good stewards of our resources.”

All testing locations are by appointment only; a pre-screening is required. Anyone seeking a test must first call the Coronavirus Community Nurse Hotline at 573-331-4200. The Hotline is staffed from 8 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday, and 9 am to 3 pm, Saturday and Sunday. Nurses provide screening those who thinks they have been exposed to COVID-19. If a patient meets the DHSS and CDC screening criteria, the patient will be directed to the nearest testing location. Saint Francis operates multiple testing locations throughout the region, in addition to the community-wide Coronavirus Test Collection Center.

If you are experiencing emergent medical symptoms, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

If you have mild symptoms and would not have driven to the emergency room six months ago, please do not go now. You should stay home, self-quarantine and call the Coronavirus Community Nurse Hotline for next steps.