A free pop-up COVID-19 testing site will open in Centre County. Here’s what to know
Starting next week, Centre County residents will be able to get a free COVID-19 test.
The state Department of Health announced Friday that a pop-up coronavirus testing site will open next week at the Nittany Mall. The drive-thru site will be able to accommodate up to 500 people per day. Insurance is not necessary to receive a test, and results are expected in 24-48 hours.
“If someone wants a test, they can get a test here at this site,” Commissioner Michael Pipe said Friday. “We’re going to be able to have 3,000 to 4,000 tests done over the course of these several days.”
The health department signed a contract with AMI Expeditionary Healthcare to provide testing in communities across Pennsylvania. AMI will deploy teams to perform the community testing.
Tests will be conducted on a first-come, first-served basis on Sept. 25, 26, 29, 30, Oct. 1, 2 and 3. Patients are not required to show symptoms of COVID-19 in order to be tested. No appointment is necessary, but a photo-ID or insurance card is required. Registration will also be completed on-site.
Pipe said the site will further allow the health department and Centre County to identify individuals, asymptomatic and symptomatic, who have contracted the virus.
“Truly, this is a resource that will assist the community in staying safe and staying healthy,” Pipe said.
The site will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
“Since the beginning of September, we have seen an increase of 1,109 cases in Centre County and 173 cases in Columbia County, which gives us significant cause for concern,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said Friday. “These 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 and quarantine to stop the spread of COVID-19.”
Levine also offered Centre County officials assistance as officials work to contain the spread of the coronavirus in the county.
“I have directed my staff to assist Centre County in identifying localized containment and mitigation efforts to reduce the spread and facilitate communications between large employers, county officials and local governments,” she said. “This group will work together to develop strategic recommendations tailored to this specific area to stop the spread of COVID-19.”
This story was originally published September 18, 2020 at 11:17 AM.
