Drive-thru coronavirus testing coming to York fairgrounds, WellSpan Health says
To handle a growing surge of patients, testing will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily at the fairgrounds. Patients must have a referral.
Candy WoodallThe historic York fairgrounds that have been home to countless local traditions and memories will soon be a drive-thru for patients who need to be tested for the coronavirus.
To meet the growing surge of patients who should be tested for COVID-19, WellSpan Health at 7 a.m. Friday will open an outdoor testing location at the York Expo Center.
"The York Expo Center offers us a larger, centrally located area to conduct testing more quickly and efficiently," said spokesman Ryan Coyle. "In addition, it will allow us to more safely test people while they remain in their vehicles – offering a convenient and safer testing area for patients and our care teams."
WellSpan's plans emerged the same day the state Department of Health announced positive COVID-19 test results for two York County patients. Those patients were WellSpan patients, Coyle said, but the health system is not disclosing the facility where they were treated.
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The health system's new testing location is not for walk-in patients. It is to serve patients who were previously evaluated by a clinician and recommended for testing.
"Our care teams will accept physician referrals through WellSpan’s Epic electronic health record or through a printed referral note from a licensed medical provider," Coyle said.
WellSpan teams will be at the fairgrounds from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily to test those patients as they drive up in their vehicles.
Patients seeking testing should call their primary care provider for screening and assessment. For patients without a primary care provider, a toll-free Coronavirus Information Hotline has been set up at (855) 851-3641.
Assessments can be conducted by through WellSpan's Online Urgent Care service.
A handful of residents who spoke to the York Daily Record late Wednesday afternoon agree that opening a test center at the fairgrounds is a good idea.
Doug Wiley, who like the others live across Carlisle Avenue from the main gates, thinks the fairgrounds is the perfect place to have the test center.
"It's a big open space that isn't being used," said Wiley, who has lived across from the fairgrounds for more than 20 years. "Why shouldn't they use it? It's better than putting it in a store parking lot."
Desiree Johnson hadn't heard about the new test center before being told by a reporter. She agreed that the move makes good sense.
"I don't know where else in York they could put it," she said. "They need a place where people can get a quick test."
Felix Rodriguez has lived across the street from the fairgrounds for four years, and has seen his share of traffic. Not even the potential for fair-like crowds could keep him from thinking the drive-through testing center is a good idea.
"This is a good idea," he said. "People have to get tested somewhere. Even increased traffic doesn't concern me."
Patients who think they may have coronavirus can use WellSpan's self-assessment tool on WellSpan.org/coronavirus to check their risk for COVID-19.
WellSpan's plans were revealed a day after state officials said they were drafting plans for two mass testing sites in hard-hit Montgomery and Philadelphia counties.
This story is developing.
Candy Woodall is a reporter for the USA Today Network. She can be reached at 717-480-1783 or on Twitter at @candynotcandace.