With schools back in session, Lakeland Regional Health is opening a children’s COVID-19 testing site next Tuesday. Located on the second floor of the Carol Jenkins Barnett Pavilion for Women and Children, the testing center is being opened “in anticipation of an increase in children needing to be tested for COVID-19,” the hospital said in a news release.

The testing site is open to children 17 and younger who have a doctor’s testing order. No appointment is needed. The site is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week.

Polk County schools resumed in-person classes Aug. 24, with roughly half of students going to brick-and-mortar schools and half using distance-learning options.

Since then, the school district has reported 50 individual cases of COVID-19 at school sites. No information is being release on how many are students, teachers or other staff, or on how many people have been asked to quarantine because of proximity to positive cases.

Review a list of schools with COVID-19 cases

Lakeland schools where cases have been reported include Lakeland High School/Harrison School for the Arts (12 cases), Jean O’Dell Learning Center (2), Carlton Palmore Elementary (1), Lake Gibson Middle (1), Tenoroc High (1), Churchwell Elementary (1).

Other testing

Lakeland Regional Health also announced today that patients will able to go online starting next Wednesday to book appointments for drive-through testing.

No doctor’s order is needed at the two drive-through testing sites:

  • The first floor of the D-E Parking Garage at the main hospital campus on Lakeland Hills Boulevard
  • Medulla Community Center, 1049 Parker Road

The link to schedule an appointment online goes live next Wednesday. After that, patients can schedule an appointment at https://mylrh.iqhealth.com/appointments/search/flex-new.

Patients will still be able to make appointments over the phone by calling 863.413.5907.

It typically takes two to five days to get results when using drive-through testing, the hospital says.

Patients tested at the hospital’s Respiratory Care Center, 320 Parkview Place, are getting results the next day, the hospital says. Appointments can be made at 863.284.5000. The center is reserved for patients with COVID-19 symptoms or other acute respiratory illnesses.

Flu shots

Flu vaccines recently became available at Lakeland Regional Health’s Primary Care, Urgent Care and Walk-In locations. Patients can call 863.284.5000 to schedule a flu shot with a primary care provider, or walk in to LRH’s Lake Miriam Urgent Care or Gateway Walk-In locations.

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Barry Friedman founded Lkldnow.com in 2015 as the culmination of a career in print and digital journalism. Since 1982, he has used the tools of reporting, editing and content curation to help people in Lakeland understand their community better.

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