Harrisburg, PA - The Department of Health today announced beginning Saturday, February 13, regional drive-thru, outdoor walk-up, and indoor walk-in COVID-19 testing clinics will be held in Berks, Indiana, Lackawanna, Lawrence, and Lebanon counties. The counties with testing sites will continue to change weekly over the next three weeks so that 61 counties will eventually be covered by dedicated pop-up testing sites over a 12-week period.
“While recent decreases in daily positive cases are promising, they don’t negate the need for testing,” Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam said. “We encourage anyone who feels they need or want a test to take advantage of these free pop-up testing locations. From March 2020 through February 10, 2021, the department has received 9,685,927 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test results, which roughly equates to 75.7 percent of the population. From May 2020 through February 10, 2021, the department has received 1,451,884 antigen test results. The total number of tests combined equates to 11,137,811, roughly 87 percent of the total Pennsylvania population.”
The department extended and expanded its initial contract with AMI to perform pop-up testing in counties across the state. Counties under the initial contract, as well as the total number of patients tested, can be found here. The initial AMI testing and the extension were funded by the federal ELC Enhancing Detection grant.
The department believes that increased testing in the counties will assist in determining the prevalence of the virus and assist the county in moving forward. Concerning counties, identified as those with percent positives above five percent, which is currently every county in the state, can be found on the Early Warning Monitoring Dashboard. Each county is being monitored as the state continues to examine all available data.
The department is grateful for the tremendous partnership with AMI and participating county entities to provide pop-up testing in five regions across the commonwealth. The AMI testing sites will be open to anyone who feels they need a test. It is important that even people with no symptoms who test positive isolate to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Beginning Saturday, February 13, drive-thru and outdoor walk-up testing clinics will be held to contain the spread of COVID-19 cases in the following three counties:
- Berks;
- Lackawanna; and
- Lebanon.
Indiana County will also begin Saturday, February 13, but will solely be a drive-thru clinic.
Lastly, Lawrence County will also begin Saturday, February 13, but will be a drive-thru and indoor walk-in clinic.
Testing will be available daily from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM starting Saturday, February 13 through Wednesday, February 17.
The testing site locations and addresses are:
- Berks County: Reform Congregation Oheb Sholom Synagogue, 555 Warwick Drive, Wyomissing, PA, 19610;
- Indiana County: Indiana Mall (Former Bon Ton parking area near the Warren Rd. entrance), 2334 Oakland Ave., Indiana, PA, 15701;
- Lackawanna County: Scranton High School, 63 Mike Munchak Way, Scranton, PA, 18508;
- Lawrence County: Cascade Park, 1928 E. Washington St., New Castle, PA, 16101; and
- Lebanon County: Lebanon County Fire School, 833 Metro Drive, Lebanon, PA, 17042.
No parking or restrooms will be available for Berks and Lackawanna counties, so everyone driving must use the drive-thru. The walk-up section of the sites is reserved for individuals who arrive through public transportation.
Those being tested in Berks County should start on State Hill Road, drive to Wellington Boulevard, then make a left onto Warwick Drive. This will take you to the site which is approximately 2.5 blocks down on the right. Warwick Drive will be made one way throughout the event so this will be the only way to access the site. There will be signage placed to direct vehicles from State Hill Road.
Up to 450 patients can be tested per day. Mid-nasal passage swab PCR tests will be performed. Testing is on a first-come, first-serve basis and is completely free to all patients. Testing is also open to individuals who are not county residents. Patients must be ages three and older and are not required to show symptoms of COVID-19 in order to be tested. No appointment is necessary. Patients are encouraged to bring a photo-ID or insurance card. Registration will also be completed on-site. The turnaround time for testing results is two to seven days after testing.
Individuals who are tested should self-quarantine while they await test results. Individuals who live with other people should self-quarantine in a private room and use a private bathroom if possible. Others living in the home with the individual awaiting test results should also stay at home. The department has additional instructions for individuals waiting for a COVID-19 test result. Individuals who test positive will receive a phone call from AMI while individuals who test negative will receive a secured-PDF emailed to them from AMI.
For the latest information for individuals, families, businesses and schools, visit “Responding to COVID-19” on pa.gov.
While vaccine supply from the federal government remains limited, the Department of Health is working to ensure the vaccine is provided in a way that is ethical, equitable and efficient.
The Wolf Administration stresses the role Pennsylvanians play in helping to reduce the spread of COVID-19:
- Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
- Cover any coughs or sneezes with your elbow, not your hands.
- Clean surfaces frequently.
- Stay home to avoid spreading COVID-19, especially if you are unwell.
- If you must go out, you are required to wear a mask when in a business or where it is difficult to maintain proper social distancing.
- Download the COVID Alert PA app and make your phone part of the fight. The free app can be found in the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store by searching for “covid alert pa”.
Updated Coronavirus Links: Press Releases, State Lab Photos, Graphics
MEDIA CONTACT: April Hutcheson - RA-DHpressoffice@pa.gov
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