Harrisburg, PA - The Department of Health today announced a COVID-19 testing site in Monroe County opening to the public. The site is available through a partnership with AMI Expeditionary Healthcare (AMI).
“We continue to see Pennsylvanians infected with COVID-19,” Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam said. “This reinforces the consistent need for accessible COVID-19 testing across the state. We encourage anyone who feels they need or want a test, especially if they think they have been exposed to COVID-19, to take advantage of the free COVID-19 testing clinics closest to them.”
Testing is available from 9 AM to 5 PM, beginning Monday, July 26 through Friday, July 30 at Middle Smithfield Township Cultural Center, 147 Municipal Drive, East Stroudsburg, PA, 18302. This is an indoor walk-in site.
The AMI testing sites are open to anyone who feels they need a test. It is important that even people with no symptoms and who have tested positive isolate in order to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
Up to 450 people 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. No appointment is necessary. Testing is open to individuals from any county who are ages 3 and older. Individuals are not required to show symptoms of COVID-19 to be tested. Patients are encouraged to bring a photo-ID. Registration will also be completed on-site. The turnaround time for testing results is one to three days after testing.
Additional AMI COVID-19 testing sites are currently operating Tuesday through Saturday in Centre County through July 31 and Greene County and Mercer County Welcome Centers through Aug. 21. The final AMI site currently operating Monday through Thursday in Northampton County will be open through July 29.
- Testing in Centre County is available at Centre County Recycling & Refuse Authority Interpretive Center, 253 Transfer Road, Bellefonte, PA 16823 from 10 AM to 7 PM.
- Testing at Greene County Welcome Center is available at I-79 N Mount Morris, PA, 15349 from 9 AM to 6 PM.
- Testing at Mercer County Welcome Center site is available at I-80 East, West Middlesex, PA, 16159 from 9 AM to 6 PM.
- Testing in Northampton County is available at Paxinosa Elementary School, 1221 Northampton St, Easton, PA, 18042 from 8 AM to 3 PM.
In addition, Pennsylvanians can find testing sites in their area on the locator map here.
Individuals who are tested should self-quarantine while they await their 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.
The department has contracted with AMI to perform pop-up COVID-19 testing in counties across the state since September 2020. The contracts were funded by the federal Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) Enhancing Detection grant. Counties under the initial contract, as well as the total number of patients tested, can be found here. Counties served under the first contract extension, as well as the total number of patients tested, can be found here.
From March 2020 through July 22, 2021, the department has received 14,916,105 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test results. From May 2020 through July 22, 2021, the department has received 3,863,708 antigen test results. The total combined number of tests reported to the department is 18,779,813 since COVID-19 testing began in the commonwealth. The number of Pennsylvanians who have been tested by PCR or antigen tests is 6,508,060 which roughly equates to 50.8 percent of the Pennsylvania population. Some people have been tested more than once.
Counties in need of a COVID-19 testing site should contact the Pennsylvania Department of Health to discuss the possibility of setting up a pop-up site through AMI.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people who are fully vaccinated do not get tested following a known exposure, if asymptomatic, with some exceptions for specific settings. Otherwise, the department recommends getting tested for COVID-19 if you come in contact with an infected individual or if you are experiencing symptoms.
For the latest information for individuals, families, businesses and schools, visit “Responding to COVID-19” on pa.gov.
The Department of Health is working to ensure the vaccine is provided in a way that is ethical, equitable and efficient to all Pennsylvanians:
- All Pennsylvanians age 12 and older are eligible to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine. Use Vaccine Finder to find a COVID-19 vaccine provider near you.
- A commonwealth COVID-19 vaccination guide explains the current process for getting one. Pennsylvanians with questions about the vaccination process can call the Department of Health hotline at 1-877-724-3258.
- All of the locations that received vaccine and how much they have received can be found on the COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution webpage.
- Vaccine dashboard data can also be found on the website to find more information on the doses administered and showcase demographic information.
- The Unite Against COVID Weekly Update is a round-up of news you can use and answers to your most pressing vaccine questions – delivered directly to your inbox every week.
- Frequently asked questions can be found here.
MEDIA CONTACT: Mark O'Neill - RA-DHpressoffice@pa.gov
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