Omaha will soon have COVID-19 drive-thru test clinic

A drive-thru clinic -- to test for COVID-19 and other illnesses -- is set to open in Omaha on Monday.

This comes on the heels of the second case of community spread.

People will be able to drive-thru the clinic and be tested for COVID-19 -- if their symptoms warrant it -- but also get basic medical care.

Cary Reimers, with BANYAN Medical Systems said, “We know that there's a need and there's going to be more need throughout this time. We have no idea how long this is going to last."

BANYAN Medical Systems, along with Pivot Concierge Health, is heading up the drive-thru clinic where people will be able to be screened for COVID-19, but also for other illnesses like the flu.

“All the symptoms are pretty similar," said Kieron Broderick, with Pivot Concierge Health. "With COVID there is the hallmark symptom that seems to be the very intense fever. That can be true for flu. So the other things we'll be checking on is their exposure to other people that may have COVID, their travel plans."

There will be two tents set up at the clinic site.

Everyone will first go through a series of questions about symptoms and exposure.

If symptoms line up with COVID-19, they'll drive into one tent where the swab test -- that they say is FDA approved -- will be administered.

If they have symptoms but they don't meet the criteria for COVID-19, they'll drive into a second tent to be tested for other illnesses, like the flu or strep throat.

No one will get out of their car.

Reimers said, “Our goal is to help this community through this process. Help our healthcare systems. Keep people out of the clinics and out of the hospitals and take care of you as we would any other place in the community."

Pivot providers will be able to diagnose and treat those who are not being tested for COVID-19.

Broderick said, "For the most part a lot of people are going to have flu and cold symptoms and we should treat it as that."

Results for patients being tested for COVID-19 should be returned within one to two days.

Flu tests would be returned much quicker.

The clinic will be located at Canfield Plaza parking lot at 8453 W. Center Rd. in Omaha.

It will be available Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.