Drive-through coronavirus testing in Calexico
CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - A private clinic in Calexico has joined the frontlines of Imperial County’s fight against the coronavirus.
VO Medical Center is now screening and testing patients for COVID-19.
The clinic has been testing patients for almost two weeks.
On average the medical center tests 20-30 patients each day.
According to a nurse at the facility, Vo Medical Center saw the need for more testing in Imperial County. They also say they had the resources and the capacity to provide a safe testing environment for all their patients.
“When we knew that the FDA approved the test kit that we have for COVID-19 testing. We immediately contacted the local county department and got permission to start testing," said Venus Nguyen, nurse practitioner.
Vo Medical Center donated some of their approved nasal swab testing kits to the county. The clinic says an increase in testing kits will help identify virus carriers faster.
“Those that want to get tested must call in first to get screened. They need to talk to their providers or they can come with prescriptions from their providers and we can do the testing for them, but testing is only done by appointments," said Nguyen.
Appointments for testing start at 6:00 p.m. and are conducted in the parking lot in a drive-through fashion. This ensures possible coronavirus patients aren’t putting the clinic's regular patients at risk.
Venus and her husband Doctor Tien Vo have been serving the Imperial County for ten years.
“We feel very honored to do this for the community and our goal is to keep everyone safe," said Nguyen.
They currently have a clinic in El Centro and Calexico. Coronavirus testing is only being offered at their Calexico location, but they are working with the county to get approval to do testing at their El Centro location as well.
