Infection Control experts have been collaborating with colleagues across our system to continually evaluate and update our COVID-19 testing criteria based on an assessment of clinical priorities and our testing capacity. Please note the ambulatory testing criteria at our drive-through evaluation site at the main entrance of Nantucket Cottage Hospital have been loosened to include all patients with active COVID-19 symptoms.

The new criteria include at least one of the following signs or symptoms consistent with a viral respiratory syndrome:

• Subjective/documented fever
• New sore throat
• New cough
• New runny nose/nasal congestion
• New shortness of breath
• New muscle aches or
• Anosmia (new loss of sense of smell)
• Atypical symptoms concerning for COVID-19 (e.g. COVID toes) 

As testing was implemented in the early phases of our coronavirus response, the criteria was extremely focused on high-risk patients and capacity was more limited, so some patients who were evaluated did not meet that earlier criteria and were not tested. With the criteria loosened as noted above, we are encouraging anyone with one or more of these symptoms to come to our drive-through for an evaluation by our clinical team.