More Than 260 Mercer Residents Tested For Coronavirus In 3 Days
LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ — After a soft opening on Tuesday, tested 266 patients as of Thursday, county officials announced. The site opened at the Quaker Bridge Mall on Tuesday,testing 70 patients on an abbreviated schedule. The rest of the 266 patients were tested over the course of the next two days.
“Our team is keeping up with the demand, and we have not had to turn anyone away because of a lack of test kits,” Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes said.
The testing center is by appointment only for symptomatic Mercer County residents age 18 or older who have a prescription from their primary health care provider (PCP). Anyone who is symptomatic for coronavirus and wants to be tested should contact their PCP.
Their doctor must fax their prescription to the site's appointment makers. Those who show up and who do not have an appointment will not be able to be tested.
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Hughes praised the staff on site, which includes medical professionals from hospitals in Mercer County and Medical Reserve Corps volunteers.
“We have a great group of people working at the test site,” Hughes said. “They are smart, compassionate and efficient.”
He also praised Café Du Pain in Lawrence and Jim Hines, owner of Mercer Oaks Catering in West Windsor, for donating food and beverages for the test site workers all week.
The testing center is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is a collaborative effort between Mercer County, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton, Capital Health System, St. Francis Medical Center in Trenton and the Trenton Health Team.
Mercer County has contracted with Bio-Reference Laboratories, which will provide testing for individuals who are symptomatic and have been scheduled through their PCP.
To be eligible for testing, an individual must be examined by a PCP. The PCP will determine the need for the test based on symptoms. No one should be tested without being symptomatic.
If the PCP deems a test is necessary, they will fax a prescription to the Mercer County call center with the patient's phone number. Staff will then call the patient, take registration information and schedule an appointment, providing testing site instructions.
For the health, safety and security of staff at the site, patients will not be permitted to leave their vehicles. Walk-ups are not permitted.
Anyone who believes they may have symptoms of coronavirus can consult the State of New Jersey's COVID-19 Information Hub that includes a self-assessment tool that will help you determine whether you should be tested. Visit self.covid19.nj.gov.
See related: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know
This article originally appeared on the Lawrenceville Patch
