Free and widespread coronavirus testing coming to Horry, Georgetown counties
Free, wide-spread coronavirus testing is coming to Horry, Georgetown and Williamsburg counties as state public health officials look to ramp up testing across South Carolina.
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control is teaming up with Tidelands Health to offer free COVID-19 tests.
Unlike in the past, you do not need a pre-screening to get a test.
By the end of June the goal is to test 8,000 people in the Pee Dee region, or two percent of the population.
There should be enough tests for whoever wants one until the end of next month. Tidelands Health Chief Operating Officer Gayle Resetar said she hopes supplies will last to administer tests as long as the pandemic is ongoing.
“This is our community too. We live here, and it’s a part of our mission. It’s what we’ve done for 70 years. We will continue doing the right thing,” Resetar said. “Partnering with DHEC is perfectly aligned with our mission.”
The Myrtle Beach Pelicans Stadium and Coastal Carolina University will be used as clinic locations. Additional testing locations across the region and when the clinics will open will be announced soon once DHEC approves additional facilities.
Clinics should be operational by next week.
The new testing effort is a result of the federal government providing more tests to South Carolina. Resetar said in the past tests were limited to people displaying symptoms due to shortage of supplies.
“Tidelands has only been testing only symptomatic patients for two reason. One is that is what the CDC guidance has been. But probably the number one reason for that CDC guidance in that regard is there has been a pretty severe shortage of testing supplies and capacity. But over the last few weeks that has improved in South Carolina,” she said.
At this time, Tidelands doesn’t know exactly which coronavirus tests it will use, but staff members will know how to administer both nasal and oral types of testing.
You do not need to call ahead for a test or bring any documents. You’ll be asked for contact information to get the results from your test. Anyone, even tourists, will be tested if they show up to a clinic.
Anyone under the age of 18 needs to be accompanied by a guardian.
Once the test is taken, it will be sent to the public DHEC lab to await results. It could take up to five days for results to be returned, depending on how many tests are taken each day.
The new clinics are for everyone, but if you are displaying coronavirus symptoms, Resetar said it would still probably be best to continue using the screening process. The new clinics will not have physicians on hand, but clinics that require screening for symptoms will.
Resetar said the reason the testing is available free to anyone is to intentionally improve access and to better understand COVD-19’s presence in a community. She added that even with more testing, there is still a need for everyone to practice social distancing, wash your hands and wear a mask.
State and national leaders see increased testing as an important piece of knowing the safety of a community and what risks the reopening process poses.
“Testing is an important part of keeping their eyes on the virus, and that if it does pick up and spread, it can easily be isolated,” Resetar said.
This story was originally published May 19, 2020 at 8:44 AM.
