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Department of Health Announces Week-Twelve of Regional COVID-19 Testing Extension Across the Commonwealth

02/26/2021

Harrisburg, PA - The Department of Health today announced beginning Monday, March 1, regional drive-thru, outdoor walk-up, and indoor walk-in COVID-19 testing clinics will be held Fayette, Forest, Lycoming, Perry, and Susquehanna counties. This is the last of a 12-week testing initiative to offer free COVID-19 pop-up testing sites in 61 Pennsylvanian counties through a contract with AMI Expeditionary Healthcare (AMI).

“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 25, 2021, the department has received 10,313,734 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test results. From May 2020 through February 25, 2021, the department has received 1,727,585 antigen test results. The total combined number of tests reported to the department equals 12,041,319, or the number of times Pennsylvanians have been tested since COVID-19 testing began in the commonwealth. The number of Pennsylvanians who have been tested by PCR or antigen tests is 5,008,875 which roughly equates to 39.1 percent of the Pennsylvania population. This number is lower because some people have been tested more than once.

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 Monday, March 1, drive-thru testing clinics will be held to contain the spread of COVID-19 cases in the following four counties:

  • Forest;
  • Lycoming;
  • Perry; and
  • Susquehanna.

Fayette will also begin Monday, March 1, but will be a drive-thru and indoor walk-in clinic. The indoor walk-in testing at this site is reserved for individuals who arrive through public transportation. No parking will be available for individuals using the drive-thru service.

Testing will be available daily from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM starting Monday, March 1 through Friday, March 5 for all sites except for Lycoming County which will end on Wednesday, March 3.  

The testing site locations and addresses are:

  • Fayette County:  Fayette County Airport Authority, 988 Sky Drive, Lemont Furnace, PA, 15456;
  • Forest County:  Marienville Area Civic Association (MACA), 149 MACA Drive, Marienville, PA, 16239;
  • Lycoming County:  Old Lycoming Twp. Volunteer Fire Company, 1600 Dewey Avenue, Williamsport, PA, 17701;
  • Perry County:  Newport Assembly of God Family Life Center, 27 West Shortcut Road, Newport, PA, 17074; and
  • Susquehanna County:  Harford Fairgrounds, 485 Fair Hill Road, New Milford, PA, 18834.

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. To keep Pennsylvanians informed about vaccination efforts:

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: Barry Ciccocioppo - RA-DHpressoffice@pa.gov

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