How to Screen for STDs in Times of Coronavirus
COVID-19 has posed a lot of challenges in how the world moves and works, especially those in the medical field. Because people are wary of getting the virus even when they go to their local grocery, visiting their doctors in the hospitals and clinics would seem like a galling exercise. And because the infectious disease in 2020 has been taken over by COVID-19, routine testing for other diseases like STDs have been greatly disrupted. But if you’re looking to get you and your partner some testing while practicing social distancing, here is how healthcare providers are filling the gap:
Home Testing
Home testing has seen a rise in demands albeit the department has faced pressure and reduced operation due to the pandemic. Several diagnostic clinics offer online test STD to accommodate clients who want to avoid going out or vulnerable to the effects of COVID-19. This way, they’ll be able to order through phone or portal and order whichever tests for STD they require. It allows you to do the tests in the safety of your home by sending you testing equipment for your chosen test. Once you’ve collected your samples, you can ship them back to the diagnostic center that will analyze them. Prices may vary along with the timeline, but you can get tested for one disease or up to ten of them. Most kits are popularly used to check for chlamydia, hep C, HIV, gonorrhea, and syphilis. This reduces walk-ins and physical queues outside the halls of diagnostic centers, which aims to reduce transmission from asymptomatic patients that are not detected.
Virtual Appointments
This is primarily useful for people who are unsure about how to see a doctor for certain symptoms. However, this is also used by clients who need instructions on how to use the test kits or are nervous about doing it by themselves. Trained professionals will teach and demonstrate to you how to operate the items. They are also available for an appointment if you’re feeling anxious about the prospect of getting tested.
Scheduled Appointments
For scheduled appointments, you’ll be given instructions on how to proceed to the nearby clinics of your choice to submit or get your samples taken. Because you’ll be scheduled, clinics will have significantly capped drop-by visits and limit their capacity for urgent cases. This will allow you to have a less crowded environment, which accommodates reasonable physical distancing from people you’re not meant to have any contact with while you’re there. It is also worth noting that medical establishments have enhanced their sanitation and safety protocols in their facilities as well as their staff. Additionally, you may also be required to get screened for COVID-19 before you even screened for the STDs you ordered. This added layer of screening will bolster the protection of the staff as well as the visitors in the hospital or clinic.
The recent global pandemic has forced people to be creative and ingenious in maintaining the availability of essential services and goods. Although the COVID-19 has taken the spotlight, it doesn’t mean that other healthcare services should be halted as well as circumscribe a person’s control over their sex life.
