Norwich — The William W. Backus Hospital will start offering drive-through specimen collection for coronavirus testing Friday, Hartford HealthCare announced Thursday.

The testing is for patients who show symptoms of, or may have had exposure to, COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. Patients must have a referral from a Hartford HealthCare Medical Group primary care provider. Patients who do not have a Hartford HealthCare provider may call the Hartford HealthCare Clinical Command Center at (860) 972-8100 to arrange a virtual appointment with a provider who will order the test, if deemed necessary.

In Norwich, the drive-through site, in Lot 3 at Backus, 326 Washington St., will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. Hartford HealthCare also is operating drive-through sites at Hartford Hospital and at medical facilities in Bridgeport, Meriden and Torrington.

The specimen collection, which takes less than five minutes, is administered by a physician, advanced practice practitioner or nurse outfitted in protective clothing, including a gown, goggles, a mask and gloves. Patients drive up to the site, where the clinician swabs the patient's nose and throat, collecting samples that will be sent to a laboratory for evaluation. After testing, patients are given follow-up instructions and information about self-isolation.

Patients will receive their results through MyChart or by phone within four days. For more information, visit bit.ly/HHCcvirus.