First drive-thru Covid-19 testing site in Dartmouth

Mar 25, 2020

Southcoast Health announced on Monday that it has opened the area’s first drive-thru Covid-19 testing site in Dartmouth.

According to the announcement, the site is located at one of the health system’s “non-essential” ambulatory facilities that has been temporarily closed during the pandemic.

The address is not being disclosed, as the testing site is not open to the public.

Testing at the drive-thru site is currently available only to patients who have been determined by a Southcoast provider to meet Massachusetts Department of Public Health criteria for testing, and who have made an appointment.

In order to manage limited testing capacity, Southcoast will be testing only health care providers and EMTs who have symptoms of Covid-19, as well as close contacts of confirmed Covid-19 cases who are symptomatic and have had prolonged close contact with numerous others in congregate settings. Influenza should be ruled out first.

  • Clinical symptoms of Covid-19 include fever or signs of lower respiratory illness like coughing and shortness of breath. All patients will need proof of identity and a scheduled appointment before entering the site, which is currently open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and staffed by Southcoast clinical support and security.

Contact your primary care provider’s office with questions and concerns, or call Southcoast’s Covid-19 hotline at (508) 973-1919. Southcoast Health urges patients not to walk into a Southcoast building without an appointment or without calling ahead, if at all possible.