Novant Health will open screening center in Salisbury

Published 1:34 pm Sunday, March 22, 2020

SALISBURY — Novant Health on Sunday announced it is opening a COVID-19 screening center here.

Located at 315 Mocksville Ave., the screening center will open on Tuesday and will operate 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. During a news conference last week, Novant Health Rowan Medical Center Gary Blabon described it as a drive-thru screening center. It would be in addition to a mobile unit that’s been stationed outside of the hospital’s emergency department for screening and testing.

In a news release, Novant Health said people who have no symptoms will not be tested. They should not visit a screening center, the health care system said.

“Visiting a screening center unnecessarily will only further one’s risk of exposure and put a strain on resources for those who need it most,” a news release said.

For any questions regarding the coronavirus, individuals are encouraged to call their health care provider, the health department hotline at 980-432-1800 or the Novant hotline at 877-9-NOVANT.

Novant Health said people can also use its online, self-guided assessment tool at NovantHealth.org/coronavirus. The self-guided assessment uses Centers for Disease Control and Prevention protocols and asks a series of screening questions to determine if a patient should seek care for COVID-19. The assessment is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and should not be used if patients are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, Novant Health said.

For more information on COVID-19, please the CDC’s website.