New COVID-19 Testing Criteria and Phone Numbers
Good morning, St. Louis County. On yesterday, the Department of Public Health released new criteria for testing and new phone numbers to help expedite testing.
New Criteria for Testing
The criteria for testing has changed as a result of this pandemic evolving. The new testing criteria is less focused on travel and more focused on symptoms. This is a consequence of clear evidence of community transmission being present in St. Louis County. The criteria now requires:
· Close contact of a COVID patient WITH symptoms.
· High risk (age or underlying medical condition) WITH symptoms.
· Hospitalized WITH symptoms.
Please note that each of those require symptoms. Again, symptoms are fever, cough, and shortness of breath.
Filters are in place to ensure an expedited testing process for those that meet the necessary criteria. CITIZENS MUST CALL PRIOR TO ARRIVING AT ANY TESTING SITE. This is to ensure that individuals are filtered to the next step, if any, appropriately. An operator will transfer them to a screener to get authorization for testing and provide further instruction.
Phone numbers are associated with physical location of that citizen. See attached map. Those numbers are:
North County – (314)653-5000
Mid County – (314)747-3000
West County – (314)251-0500
South County – (314)966-9666
Additionally, all SSM Health area hospitals can be reached for testing information at www.ssmhealth.com/covid19.
These processes are in place to ensure that medical professionals, facilities, and supplies are not inundated and exhausted unnecessarily. Furthermore, it reduces the time and manner that people that potentially have COVID-19 are in public.
Residents experiencing symptoms of fever, cough, and difficulty breathing, should contact the St. Louis County Health Line at (314)615-2660 with their concerns. Those who have reason to believe they have encountered a person infected with COVID-19 should also utilize that number.
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services hotline can be reached at (877)435-8411.
St. Louis County has created a website dedicated to the dissemination of information relating to COVID-19, www.stlcorona.com. Please visit that website or those belonging to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) or the World Health Organization (WHO) for the most current and reputable information available.
SSM Health providers are here to help. With SSM Health Virtual Visit you can get care for common conditions like Upper Respiratory Infection, Urinary Tract Infection, Lice, Yeast Infections, Pink Eye/Conjunctivitis, Acid Reflux/GERD – all in 12 hours or less!