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COVID-19 testing site opens at Walmart

A COVID-19 testing site opened Wednesday in Warren County.

Gov. Tom Wolf announced earlier this week that Quest Diagnostics will provide drive-through testing in the Walmart parking lot for up to 50 preregistered patients who believe they might have the virus.

“These additional testing sites help us further ramp up the state’s testing capabilities and make sure those who may have had access barriers to a COVID test can now get one easily and at no cost,” Wolf said.

“Anyone who believes they have symptoms of COVID-19 can get tested today in Pennsylvania,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said.

Symptoms of COVID-19 can include: fever; cough; shortness of breath or difficulty breathing; diarrhea; chills; repeating shaking with chills; muscle pain; headache; sore throat; and new loss of taste or smell.

“Symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure,” according to the release. “Reported illnesses have ranged from people with little to no symptoms to people being severely ill and dying.”

Five testing sites opened June 5. Warren is one of five that opened this week. The site will be open from 7 to 9 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Registration is required one day in advance.

“There is no testing inside Walmart stores,” according to the release from the governor’s office.

“The Department of Health is partnering with Quest Diagnostics to process the tests,” according to the release. “At this time, the tests are being provided at no cost to Pennsylvanians. Patients can create an account by visiting www.MyQuestCOVIDTestPA.com.”

“Registrants will be notified of a testing location within a 50-mile radius of them with available appointment times,” the release said. “Patients schedule an appointment time, print a voucher and bring the voucher to the location with them to their appointment.”

“After testing, you are required to return home and self-isolate,” Levine said. “If symptoms develop or worsen while you are waiting for your test results, talk to your doctor. If you experience a medical emergency, please seek immediate care.”

Patients will receive an email with their test results within 24-48 hours, and physicians will call any patient who has a positive test result, according to the release.

Widespread testing is now available throughout the state, according to the release. Rite Aid, CVS, Patient First, Walmart along with hospitals, health systems, federally qualified health centers, and health clinics all offer testing. Universal testing at long-term care facilities is also under way.

“We appreciate the tremendous work the health systems, pharmacies, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), medical clinics and other entities are doing to provide COVID-19 testing across Pennsylvania,” Levine said. “When we established our testing strategy, we wanted testing to be accessible, available and adaptable, and we are working to meet that challenge.”

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