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LOCK HAVEN -- Clinton County may host another COVID-19 testing site.
Andrew Kremser, county emergency services director, said he is currently discussing the possibility with the Department of Health and Lock Haven University.
"I had a conversation with the Department of Health this week. The DOH is interested in working with Clinton County to put a testing site in for two weeks," Kremser told the county commissioners on Thursday.
Kremser said DOH is going through the state, region by region and county by county, with similar plans.
"We are looking at holding one in the county on Nov. 30 through Dec. 4… Tuesday through Saturday. The hours would be Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.," he said.
Kremser is in talks with LHU about using one of the campus's facilities to host the testing, which would be conducted by AMI. AMI previously conducted virus testing at the Castanea Picnic Grounds in 2020.
"This is free, you don't need to have symptoms to get tested. You'll have results back within about 48 to 72 hours," he said.
An official announcement regarding whether or not the testing site will be a go is expected to be released soon, Kremser said.
"A press release will be soon to follow once we have that location locked down," he said. He added that, if possible, the site may be both drive-through and walk-up.
"We're looking at a walk-up clinic, unlike last year which was drive-thru," he said. "We're trying to find a location that could do both, but at this point in time it would be walk-up."
Commissioner Angela Harding offered her own comments regarding the proposed testing site.
"I think it's very timely for the Thanksgiving holiday, hunting season and that time of year leading into the December holidays," Harding said.
Harding further commented on the COVID-19 pandemic during commissioner reports.
"Clinton County currently has a two week total of 504 COVID-19 cases," she said Thursday morning. "There have been 83 deaths, we do know that there have been several other deaths in our community since the last report."
Harding said the county currently has a 42.3 percent vaccination rate. "We are ranked 55th out of 67 counties by our percentage of vaccinations in the state," she said.
She further stressed that, when giving these statistics, she wasn't saying mask wearing or the COVID-19 vaccine prevents a person from contracting the virus.
"What we do know is that both of those mitigation efforts help lessen the risks. And they also help lessen dying if you do contract the virus," Harding said.
According to statistics provided by Harding, "93 percent of all deaths since vaccinations have become available in the state are from folks who have not been vaccinated."
Although Harding said she isn't demanding those who are unvaccinated go and get the shot immediately, she did stress compassion for others.
"While I'm not pressing anyone to run out today and get a vaccination. I do think as a community, specifically in Clinton County, we need to take care of each other and take measures necessary to protect each other and those we do not know from a possible fatality because of the virus," she concluded.