The state has approved the Atlantic County testing site for COVID-19, county Executive Dennis Levinson said Monday.
The location at the Hamilton Mall parking lot in Mays Landing will be open only to Atlantic County residents by appointment, which requires a doctor's prescription.
Symptomatic healthcare workers and first-responders will be the first testing patients, beginning Thursday.
All other symptomatic county residents will begin getting appointments starting next Monday.
Individuals who are not experiencing symptoms of respiratory illness will not be able to be tested. Testing the worried well diverts limited resources from those who need them most and inundates the laboratory with specimens unlikely to test positive, according to state officials.
“We recognize that there are many people who would like to be tested to help allay their fears and concerns, but unfortunately we only have so many test kits available and the state has restricted testing to symptomatic residents only,” Levinson said. “But the reality is, whether you test positive or not, we must all do our part by adhering to the social distancing requirements to protect ourselves and our communities. That truly is our best defense to reduce the spread.”
The county has obtained 600 test kits and the necessary personal protective equipment for the drive-thru facility.
Results will be reported to the Division of Public Health. Its staff will contact residents who test positive upon confirmation.
Atlantic County now has 140 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, officials said Monday.The county has listed 19 as recovered from COVID-19.
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Atlantic County is a big step closer to getting a testing site for residents with coronavirus symptoms.
The administration submitted their plan for a site in the parking lot behind the Hamilton Mall on Wednesday, Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson told BreakingAC.
The state still has to approve the site. Levinson said he wasn't sure of the turnaround time for that.
The county has been able to get about 600 tests to start and the necessary personal protective equipment, Levinson said. They are currently working on staffing.
The administration reached out to Atlantic Cape Community College and Stockton University and will even take nursing students to work the planned site.CLICK TO SEE FULL PLAN
