That seems to be the standard interpretation.
But, even if it isn’t so, that passage, in a ‘whole bible’ context is talking about a situation similar to that which confronted the Apostle Paul on the island of Malta. He was accidentally bitten by a snake; he didn’t seek out a snake and dare it to bite him.
And he wasn’t harmed. AND it was a big red alert signal (a sign) to the people of Malta that something special was going on with this man, Paul.
It was all about Paul and how he survived the snake bite showing he was of G-d. Then many years later that snake handling verse(s) was added. So it’s all about how Paul survived that instance in his ministry.