COVID-19 Testing

White River Health (WRH) provides COVID-19 testing at WRH Primary Care and Rural Health Clinics. 

Who Needs to be Tested?

• If you have COVID-19 symptoms
• At least 5 days after known or suspected close contact to COVID-19
• For screening (schools, workplaces, congregate settings, etc.)
• Before and after travel
• When asked by a healthcare professional or public health official

COVID-19 Symptoms

• Cough
• Diarrhea/Nausea/Vomiting
• Fatigue
• Fever/Chills
• Loss of Smell or Taste
• Muscle Aches
• Runny Nose/Congestion
• Shortness of Breath
• Sore Throat

Where Can I Get Tested?

• White River Health Family Care - Batesville (previously Batesville Family Care)
• White River Health Family Care - Cave City (previously Cave City Medical Clinic)
• White River Health Pediatrics (previously The Children's Clinic)
• White River Health Family & Specialty Care - Batesville (previously The Diagnostic Clinic at WRMC)
• White River Health Family Care - Drasco (previously Drasco Medical Clinic)
• White River Health Family Care - Melbourne (previously Melbourne Medical Clinic)
• White River Health Family Care - Cherokee Village (previously Midway Medical Clinic)
• White River Health Family Care - Newark (previously Newark Medical Clinic)
• White River Health Family & Specialty Care - Newport (previously Newport Diagnostic Medical Clinic)
• White River Health Family Care - Pleasant Plains (previously Pleasant Plains Medical Clinic)
• White River Health Family Care - Strawberry (previously Strawberry Medical Clinic)
• White River Health Family & Specialty Care - Mountain View (previously Stone County Family Medicine Clinic)
• White River Health Family Care - Mountain View (previously Stone County Primary Care Clinic)
• White River Health Family Care - Heber Springs (previously Sugarloaf Medical Clinic)
• WRMC Family Practice
• White River Health Family Care - Southside (previously WRMC Medical Complex Southside)

At Home COVID-19 Test

At home COVID-19 tests are available for sale at retail outlets and pharmacies.    

More Information

COVID-19 is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. The virus spreads mainly between people who are in close contact with on another (within about 6 feet) through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. 

Protect Yourself from COVID-19

• Stay up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccines. Free vaccines are available at local pharmacies. 
• Wear a mask/face covering when in public and in close contact with people who do not live in your household. 
• Wash your hands often. If soap and water aren't available, use an alcohol-based sanitizer. 

More Prevention Tips

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Don't have close contact with people who may be infected with COVID-19. Stay home if you are ill. 
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
• Maintain social distance: six (6) feet between yourself and others in public. 

Additional Resources

Stop the spread of COVID-19 misinformation by using trusted sources for information about coronavirus, testing, treatment, and vaccines.  These sites include important information to help you stay healthy, current travel advisories, and mental health support. Your primary care provider is another trusted resource to help you make informed decisions regarding care for you and your family. 

Arkansas Department of Health

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Covid ActNow

Vaccines

COVID-19 vaccines protect against severe infection and hospitalization.  Vaccines are approved for adults and children age five and older.  The vaccine is available at local pharmacies or your local county health office. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has detailed information about vaccines we've linked on this page.  Your local pharmacist or healthcare provider can answer your questions about vaccine safety and effectiveness.  

Vaccine Information

Lengua Española

El Sistema de Salud White River (WRH) está preparado y está trabajando en estrecha colaboración con los funcionarios locales y estatales para atender a los pacientes, proteger a nuestros empleados y garantizar la disponibilidad de atención médica para los residentes de las comunidades a las que servimos. WRH se enfoca en la salud y el bienestar de nuestros pacientes, visitantes, empleados y comunidades a través de la promoción del bienestar, la prevención de enfermedades y la educación.

White River Health News and Updates

Since the emergence of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), White River Health has pledged communication that is clear, concise, and transparent.  In that spirit, we consolidated all press releases and interviews in one place.  Our leadership team, physicians, and all employees are dedicated to caring for residents in every community of our service area.   

Please check this page often for links to the latest information about our response to the virus, as well as, up-to-date information about how we are caring for all the healthcare needs of our community.  Our facilities are open to meet the routine medical needs for our patients. 

• COVID-19 1B and 1C Phase Vaccination Information
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Q&A
• WRHS Announces Temporary Furlogh
• Economic Impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• The Pulse Special Edition March 24, 2020
• First Presumed COVID-19 Case Reported
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Confirmed in Independence County
• Press Release March 20, 2020
• Radio Interview White River Now March March 18, 2020
• Community Update

Healthy at Home

White River Health is dedicated to improving the health of residents in the communities we serve.  The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Arkansas Department of Health recommends residents stay at home except for essential tasks such as work, grocery shopping, or medical appointments.  

School cancellations and closures of restaurants, movie theaters, parks, and other types of recreation create a vacuum in our otherwise busy schedules.  We want to provide resources for you to help you manage and thrive while at home.  

Community Support

White River Health Behavioral Health Services provide a Community Support telephone line to discuss mental health, self-care recommendations, information about community resources, medical assistance, and more. This is a free service of White River Health. Someone is available to take your call Monday thru Friday from 10 am until 2 pm.  Call (870)262- HOPE(4673)

• Being Well at Home
• Fun Family Experiment from The Children's Clinic
• How to Practice Social Distancing
• Outdoor Activities at Home
• Practicing Mindfulness
• Story Time with The Children's Clinic
• You are Not Alone

Coronavirus: Key Facts to Know

With all the information swirling around about coronavirus, it’s important to understand the facts. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a virus that causes respiratory illness. It was first found in people in Wuhan, China, in late 2019, and has now been detected in more than 100 locations around the world, including the United States. The latest information can be found at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov.

What Are the Symptoms?

There are actually many types of coronavirus. Most people experience these viruses at some point in their lives. Common coronaviruses usually cause mild to moderate respiratory illnesses, such as the common cold.

Symptoms of COVID-19 can appear up to 14 days after contact with the virus and may include fever, coughing, and trouble breathing. Some people have no symptoms or only mild symptoms. However, COVID-19 can cause severe illness such as pneumonia, leading to death in some cases.

Am I At Risk?
If you’ve been to a place where people have been sick with this virus, you are at risk for infection. Call your healthcare provider if you’ve been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19 and you have a fever, cough, or difficulty breathing. Call, too, if you have these symptoms and you live in or have recently traveled from an area with ongoing spread of COVID-19.

There is currently no specific medicine to treat COVID-19. Supportive treatment of severe cases may require treatment with IV fluids and oxygen.

Preventing Respiratory Illnesses
COVID-19 is thought to spread mainly from person to person, between people who are within about six feet from each other, through droplets of fluid that a person coughs or sneezes into the air.  It may be possible to get the virus if you touch a surface of object with the virus on it and then touch your mouth, nose, or eyes.  However, this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.  

The best prevention is to not have contact with COVID-19. Follow these steps, which will also help protect you from colds and flu:

• Wash your hands often. If soap and water aren’t available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Don’t have close contact with people who are sick. 
• Put distance between yourself and other people if COVID-19 is spreading in your community. 
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.

The CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from COVID-19, unless your health care provider recommends it. People who have COVID-19 and are showing symptoms should wear a mask to protect others from infection.

White River Health (WRH) provides COVID-19 testing at WRH Primary Care and Rural Health Clinics.  For questions about the need for testing, use our interactive Coronavirus Assessment Tool on this site or call (870) 262-6877. 

Who Needs to be Tested

People with Symptoms of COVID-19

People with Close Contact to a person who has tested positive for COVID-19

People having a surgical procedure

Where Can I get Tested