HAMLET — The former Sandhills Regional Medical Center is being put to use as a drive-thru testing facility for the coronavirus.
The site was set up in a coordinated effort between FirstHealth, the Richmond County Health Department and Richmond County Emergency Services to “expand COVID-19 testing and help avoid (a) bottleneck in the emergency department and clinics,” according to Emily Sloan, a FirstHealth spokesperson.
“This is also a safer way for staff and patients to obtain testing,” she added.
But not just anyone can drive up.
“The testing is limited to people who are referred by a provider for screening and testing,” Sloan said. “(Residents) need to call their provider or a convenient care clinic to be referred to the drive-thru clinic for testing.”
Since the testing is limited to referrals, Sloan said the schedule and hours are only being made available to healthcare providers.
While there are still no documented cases of COVID-19 in Richmond County, those with confirmed patients are getting closer as the numbers continue to rise across the state.
On Wednesday, Moore County announced that it had its first confirmed case, later identified by FirstHealth of the Carolinas as a physician. Officials reported Thursday afternoon that it was notified of its second positive case, which is unrelated to the first.
Records with the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services show there is also one case each in nearby Hoke and Union counties.
The state total is nearing 100 with 97 confirmed cases in 22 as of 9:45 a.m. Thursday. John Hopkins University’s coronavirus tracker showed 121 for North Carolina at 6 p.m.
Durham County has overtaken Wake with the highest number of cases at 32. Wake has 22 and Mecklenburg has 13.
The Wilson Times reports that one of that county’s two patients is the first case of community spread COVID-19 in the state.
“This is the first case where we could not identify any travel history or contact with a known presumptive positive person,” said Wilson County Assistant Manager Ron Hunt, the Times reports.
The woman, who is older than 50 and has underlying health issues, tested negative for the flu, according to the Times.
DHHS reports that 2,505 North Carolinans have been tested for COVID-19.
Several coastal counties are closing off to visitors.
Dare County set up checkpoints on Tuesday barring any non-residents except those who own property or work on the Outer Banks, according to OBX Today. In lieu of a permit, checkers were accepting other forms of documentation before allowing drivers through.
Visitors are also not allowed to travel through Dare County to access Currituck, Hyde (Ocracoke Island), or Tyrrell counties, according to a press release posted on the Outer Banks Sentinel.
The Hyde County Board of Commissioners on Wedensday approved an emergency declaration barring visitor access to Ocracoke Island starting Thursday, according to the N.C. Department of Transportation.
The only way to reach Ocracoke is by one of three state-run ferries from Hatteras Island, Cedar Island or Swan Quarter or by private boat.
“Visitors with reservations for the Swan Quarter-Ocracoke and Cedar Island-Ocracoke ferry routes will have their reservations canceled and will be issued refunds,” reads the NCDOT press release. “Only residents, property owners, workers, vendors and service providers will be allowed to board Ocracoke-bound ferries.”
Those restrictions are in place until further notice and Hyde County law enforcement will be checking documentation.
On Thursday, Carteret County declared a State of Emergency asking visitors to stay away, according to WCTI-12.
While none of those counties have any cases so far, two counties that neighbor Carteret — Craven and Onlsow — each have one, according to the aforementioned state records. However, WCTI reports Craven County now has a second case and a high school employee in Pitt County recently tested positive.
The only other coastal county with a documented case of COVID-19 is Brunswick, on the South Carolina Border.
The Richmond Observer could not find any visitor restrictions for coastal counties south of Carteret County, which include Onlsow, Pender, New Hanover and Brunswick.
