South Korea pioneered the drive-thru testing for the Covid-19. The mayor of Goyang was inspired by the efficiency of the Starbucks drive-thru. They started on Feb 26. Since then, South Korea has tested almost more than 202 thousand people with its 50 drive-thru centers.
As of today, Australia, Wales, Sheffield, England, and the University of Washington Medicine (UW) in Seattle have started their own drive-thru testing.
The need for Covid-19 testing is critical to isolate the infected people from the rest of the population, especially the vulnerable ones. A Covid-19 infection in elderlies and the chronically ill increases their risk of death. The primary reason for the test is to contain the epidemic.
Why is testing for Covid-19 badly needed?
So far, the US has lagged behind in testing. Only 8,554 has been done as of Mar 9. The original test kits recommended by the CDC were found to have inaccuracies. The CDC and FDA have since changed their policies to allow more testing.
We need to do more than regular testing. We need mass screening, and drive-thrus can do that.
The Pluses of Drive-thru testing are:
- The infected are contained. The infected and uninfected don’t mix.
- Speed. Testing in an office or emergency room can take an hour. Drive-thru can do it in 5 to 10 minutes
- Cost. Since it can be done in a vacant parking lot. There is no need to set up a negative pressure room. Drive-thrus are more affordable for the people because there is no need to pay for the ER visit or doctor’s consultation.
- Greater compliance. All of the above makes the testing attractive to all making it easier for people to come.
Who should go to the drive-thru test?
- Priority will be the ones with symptoms, however mild.
- Those who have been exposed to positively tested cases.
- Those who have been in the same area, place, or countries that have many cases like China, Iran, and Italy.
- Anyone who is a caregiver of an at-risk person. (People with heart and lung disease, diabetes, cancer, and autoimmune diseases are examples).
- People who live with or visit the elderly in nursing homes or retirement facilities.
- Anyone working in a health care facility, including doctors’ offices, nursing homes, urgent care, and assisted living.
- People who have tested positive before and are done with their quarantine. The negative test is needed to get back to work.
- Ideally, everybody should be tested to find the asymptomatic carriers. But that is not practical at this time. Later, as more tests come out, that may be possible.
How did they do the Drive-Thru Testing in South Korea?
This procedure was obtained from several YouTube videos of SCMP, NBC news, Arirang and the VOA
- A car pulls into a testing station
- The testers wear full Personal Protective Equipment, including coveralls, aprons, masks, gloves, goggles, and plastic face shields.
- As the driver pulls into a testing station, the temperature of both ears are checked. At the same time, questions are asked. (Identification, contact numbers, travel history and presence of any symptoms)
- If the person is febrile, looks or feels sick, they park and get off for more evaluation.
- If they have no symptoms, they go to the next station where nose and throat samples are obtained. Instructions are then given to asymptomatic people to self-quarantine for two days. The results are provided by SMS (test) in two days.
- The whole process takes about 5 to 10 minutes.
- The vehicles are sprayed (water?) after leaving the testing area for decontamination.
Other Drive-thrus have variations
Yesterday, Australia also started drive-thru testing. Their procedure requires that the patient needs to be seen by their doctors and referred to them for testing. They can test one person per 20 minutes.
In Sheffield England, they also require a referral from a doctor to be tested. Wales also started drive-thru testing on Mar 6.
As of today, the state of Washington has the highest number of cases in the USA at 175. To protect its health care workers, the University of Washington Medicine (UW) in Seattle began drive-thru testing.
The test area of UW was conducted on the first floor of a multi-level garage. A form is required to be filled online and state whether they have symptoms or not.
If they screeners think that they may have the Covid-19, a same-day appointment with a doctor is set up for them.
Can we improve on the South Korea model?
- Setting an appointment and registration can be done online.
- A specific number or a barcode is explicitly assigned to that person after registration on the computer. The barcode can be sent to a cell phone.
- At the testing site, the barcode is scanned, a sticker gets printed, and the number applied to the collection tubes. A photo ID should be presented to verify the identity.
- Setting an appointment is needed to prevent congestion in the testing area and minimize waiting time.
- An optional page can be filled in advance that lists the places they have been and the people they were in contact with for the past 2 weeks. If the test comes back positive, then contact tracing will be facilitated.
Right now, many people and areas in the US desperately need testing. Drive-thrus have always been used for fast foods.
It is time to use it for fast testing.
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