A nurse with AMI speaks with a Warren County resident at a public COVID-19 testing site at the Isreal Building at Warren State Hospital conducted last December.

As COVID-19 case counts have risen in recent weeks so too has the need for testing.

To meet that need, a drive-through testing site will operate at the Israel Building of Warren State Hospital starting tomorrow through the middle of next month.

Warren County Public Safety Director Ken McCorrison said the site will operate from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Friday this week and then Monday through Friday in subsequent weeks.

“The county received a request from Warren General Hospital for some support with testing,” he said, explaining that WGH had seen a stark increase in the number of people seeking tests that were not showing symptoms.

McCorrison said the county is limited in what it can do since it isn’t a health care agency. As a result AMI Expeditionary Healthcare – which has the people and infrastructure and funding from the state to conduct the testing, McCorrison said – will be operating the site.

There will be no charge and AMI can process approximately 200 tests per day.

McCorrison said no appointments are needed and anyone looking to get tested is directed to the N. State St. entrance to the state hospital grounds that is adjacent to the Israel Building. All traffic to the site will enter – and exit – from that point.

People should not use Rt. 62 to directly enter the state hospital grounds to go to the testing site.

“I think the best thing we can do is to make this as non-intrusive on the state hospital as possible,” he said.

He explained that testing at the site will stop promptly at 3 p.m. as the samples will need to be driven to the firm’s lab prior to the close of business. Results through this system are currently taking between 24 and 48 hours.

Notification of the results will be provided by email. Anyone who undergoes a test and wishes to reach out to AMI can call (814) 522-5952.

McCorrison cautioned that people shouldn’t call the courthouse, 911 center or state hospital for results or updates on tests. He said the county’s role is facilitating facility use and logistical help. The state hospital is providing the location. Neither of those entities will have any information on specific tests.

This won’t be AMI’s first experience at that location. A public testing site was held at the Israel Building back in December.