Pensacola, Fla. — The Florida Department of Health in Escambia County (FDOH-Escambia) will suspend specimen collection for COVID-19 offered to Florida residents. Closure of the testing site will support ongoing COVID-19 contact tracing efforts needed to mitigate community spread and risk of infection to others. COVID-19 testing sites continue to be available at several locations in Escambia County, allowing FDOH-Escambia to focus efforts on contact tracing needs. 

Contact Tracing is Vital in COVID-19 Response 

FDOH-Escambia is working hard to slow the spread of COVID-19. If you have been around someone with COVID-19, someone from the health department may call you and ask you to self-quarantine at home away from others. Community participation is an important part in slowing the spread of COVID-19. 

Contact tracing is vital in the public health response to COVID-19, in addition to continuing the practice of prevention measures including washing your hands often, practicing social distancing and staying home when you are sick. 

In every COVID-19 epidemiological investigation, all individuals that may have been exposed are notified and given the proper guidance in order to care for themselves and to protect others. 

FDOH-Escambia urges residents to participate in contact tracing efforts to include:

• Answer the phone when the health department calls. Call the health department back if we leave you a voicemail.
• If you have been around someone with COVID-19, stay at home and self-quarantine for 14 days, starting from the most recent day that you were possibly exposed to COVID-19. Monitor yourself for symptoms of COVID-19.
• Notify those who you had close contact with recently if you become ill, so that they can monitor their health.
• Seek medical care if symptoms become severe. Severe symptoms include trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, confusion, inability to wake or stay awake, or bluish lips or face. 

Sites for COVID-Testing in Escambia County 

Persons who become sick should call, do not visit, their health care provider and tell them about their symptoms and travel history or exposure to a COVID-19 patient. Persons who do not have a health care provider or health insurance, may call (do not visit) Community Health Northwest Florida at 850-436-4630 or other community walk-in care locations, and tell them about their symptoms and travel history or exposure to a COVID-19 patient. 

An online assessment screening for COVID-19 is available to determine if further diagnostic testing is needed. The screening can also be accessed by texting “Screen” to 850-318-3080. The screening is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also call the screening center at 850-434-4080 to determine if you need an appointment. 

COVID-19 testing is available at several locations in Escambia County, including drive-thru and walk-up testing.

• IMPORTANT: Pre-screening may be required before arriving at testing centers by calling the local COVID-19 Screening Call Center at 850-746-2684.
• The screening call center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. The call center staff will assist in helping find the testing center that best fits the needs of each person needing a COVID-19 test.
• The hours of operation for some testing centers for COVID-19 are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The call center staff will confirm the hours, as they vary by location and day of week. 

Testing sites and eligibility criteria vary and are subject to change. For more detailed information on testing sites, visit Escambia County’s dedicated COVID-19 webpage or call the Citizen Information Center at 850-471-6600. 

For More Information on COVID-19 

Visit the Florida Department of Health COVID-19 webpage for information on COVID-19. If you have questions, please call the Department’s COVID-19 Call Centers available 24/7 at 1 (866) 779-6121 or email COVID-19@flhealth.gov. 

The Department has launched Healthy Together, a mobile app that can help a person view their test results, assess their symptoms and learn what to do after they have been tested for COVID-19. The Healthy Together app is available for download on the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. Individuals whose results are uploaded into Healthy Together with a phone number will automatically receive a text notifying them that their results are available in the app. 

### 

About the Florida Department of Health

The Florida Department of Health, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts. 

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @HealthyFla. For more information please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.