Mass COVID Testing Site Opening In Southeast PA: State Officials

SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA — State officials Friday said a high-volume coronavirus testing site is opening in Southeastern Pennsylvania, with hopes of serving hundreds of people daily.

Acting Secretary of Health Keara Klinepeter Friday said Delaware County will host the site at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital in Darby, Delaware County, which will be staffed by U.S. Health and Human Services contractors with additional on the ground support from the host location.

The new high-volume, high high-throughput testing site is expected to open early next week.

"The Southeast regional location was selected because it is in an area of the state with a high population and a large increase in cases and testing needs," Klinepeter said. "Delaware County was also selected because of its ease of access in the region and proximity to socially vulnerable populations in the surrounding communities."

Full details on the site have not been announced.

Clinical staff, testing supplies and laboratory support associated with bringing in the Increasing Community Access to Testing team are funded by the federal government.

The host entity is responsible for additional costs, which would be eligible for reimbursement from FEMA.

"The site is able to provide testing for approximately 1,000 people per day," Klinepeter said. "We would like to thank HHS and the host location for partnering with the Department of Health to provide this high-volume site to help meet the testing needs of Pennsylvanians."

The department is continuing discussions with federal officials about the possibility of opening an additional high-volume testing site in the south central region of Pennsylvania.

Meanwhile, eight additional free testing sites are open in Berks, Blair, Cambria, Centre, Clinton, Delaware, Luzerne and Mifflin counties in conjunction with a partnership between the department and AMI Expeditionary Healthcare.

This article originally appeared on the Across Pennsylvania Patch