PRESQUE ISLE, Maine (WAGM) - As the only drive-thru swab and send testing site in Aroostook County, Northern Light AR Gould hospital has seen a rise in testing for COVID-19 in recent weeks. News Source 8′s Cam Smith has the details.
“Given our population of our county of 70,000 people, it’s still at really a quite low level in our community.”
Northern Light AR Gould Hospital operates the only drive-thru swab and send testing site in the county.
According to AR Gould, they have administered more than 7,000 tests since the site opened in March, totaling 18 positive tests to date. AR Gould received their first positive test result on July 14th. Over the last two weeks, they have received three positive test results.
Dr. Jay Reynolds of Northern Light AR Gould Hospital, says testing is done for a variety of reasons.
“Many of the local schools have an agreement with us and they send their children here who have symptoms to get tested through more of a streamline process. We also have people who go on the website who want to get one of the state tests as well. We also work with employers who have concerns for employees and we test that way.”
Dr. Reynolds adds that given the increase in cases throughout the state, testing capacity remains strong.
“Testing capacity has been greatly expanded. We work through Northern Health Laboratory and really, we are getting our turn arounds within a day or two days, so that’s really been helpful. We’ve not had to throttle any demand or turn anybody away. We’ve been able to test everybody that wants to be tested.”
The swab and send site is open 7 days a week. Starting November 1st, testing will run from 8:30 am – 1 pm.
If you have symptoms, the best first step is to contact your primary care provider. If you don’t have one, or if you are not symptomatic but want to request a State test, you can do so through the AR Gould website: www.northernlight.org/testing. Those without a primary care provider and without internet access, can call the statewide screening line at 1-844-489-1822.
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The Link LonkOctober 30, 2020 at 05:52AM
https://www.wagmtv.com/2020/10/29/increased-testing-at-northern-light-ar-gould-swab-and-send-site/
Increased Testing at Northern Light AR Gould Swab and Send Site - WAGM
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