Advocate Christ Readies Drive-Up Coronavirus Test Sites

OAK LAWN, IL — Drive-up testing sites for the new coronavirus are being set up at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn. Logistics are still being worked but the goal is to open in Oak Lawn within the next week.

Other testing stations have been set across the Advocate Health Care network at Lutheran General in Park Ridge, and Good Shepherd in Barrington.

“To keep our patients and communities safe, efforts are underway to expand testing and to prepare for increases in patient volume across our system,” Advocate spokeswoman Johnna Kelly said.

Those exhibiting symptoms of coronavirus, such as a shortness of breath, dry cough and fever, must contact their primary physician for a referral to set up an appointment. Patients do not need to step out of their vehicles. Health care workers wearing personal protective equipment will take a swab sample from the nose or the back of the throat, or both, where the virus has been known to replicate. The genetic material captured by the swab is matched with the genetic code of COVID-19.

The Advocate Christ drive-up test site will be located on Kilbourn Avenue across the street from the emergency room entrance off 95th Street

Illinois reported its first coronavirus-related death on Wednesday, when a 61-year-old retired nurse from Chicago’s Gresham neighborhood, Patricia Frieson, was diagnosed with COVID-19 and passed away March 16. Reported cases in Illinois are now over 200.