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STATE COLLEGE -- Centre County's COVID-19 testing site has a new location.
The free indoor walk-in site is now located at the former Sears Auto Center at the Nittany Mall, 183 Shiloh Road in State College. The site is open to the general public. The site is available through a partnership with AMI Expeditionary Healthcare (AMI) and Centre County officials, according to a news release.
Testing is available from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. The current site will operate through Saturday, Oct. 31, 2021.
"The fight against COVID-19 is not over and testing is the best way to identify and help stop the virus from spreading," Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam said in a news release. "Centre County is one of many counties across the state ensuring the consistent accessibility of COVID-19 testing. We encourage anyone who feels they need or want a test, especially if they think they have been exposed to COVID-19 or are experiencing symptoms, to take advantage of the free COVID-19 testing clinics closest to them. This includes fully vaccinated individuals who are experiencing symptoms."
Previously, testing was available at a drive-up site at the mall, then inside the former Bon-Ton and Comcast/Xfinity locations. Most recently, testing was available at the Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority, located along Transfer Road in Bellefonte. There were also several alternate testing locations.
AMI began testing in Centre County last October under a direct contract with the county until March 27, 2021. During that time, 11,815 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests were administered. Under the department's guidance and request, starting March 27, 2021 through Aug. 30, 2021, several locations within the county hosted COVID-19 testing sites. AMI was the testing vendor at all sites and conducted an additional 7,932 PCR tests. In total, AMI has conducted 19,474 PCR tests in Centre County from October 2020 through August 2021.
Centre County commissioner Michael Pipe believes that continued testing is good news for Centre County, where cases of COVID-19 are on the rise.
"The continued partnership between Centre County and the Department of Health is critical now more than ever as we see an increase in COVID-19 cases in our community," Pipe said. "This collaboration allows for residents to get tested for free with quick turnarounds for results."
The AMI testing site is open to anyone who feels they need a test. According to the DOH, it is important that even people with no symptoms who have tested positive, isolate to help stop the spread of COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people who are fully vaccinated and have a known exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 be tested three-to-five days after exposure, and to wear a mask in public indoor settings for 14 days or until they receive a negative test result.
Otherwise, the DOH recommends getting tested if you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.
Up to 450 people can be tested per day. Mid-nasal passage swab PCR tests will be performed. Testing is on a first-come, first-serve basis and is completely free. No appointment is necessary. Testing is open to individuals from any county who are ages 3 and older. Individuals are not required to show symptoms of COVID-19 to be tested. Patients are encouraged to bring a photo ID, but ID is not required to be tested. Registration will also be completed on-site. The turnaround time for testing results is one to three days after testing.
For more information about COVID-19, visit health.pa.gov.