Drive-Up Coronavirus Testing Extends To Weekly In Vernon

VERNON, CT — Coronavirus testing will now be offered weekly at the Vernon Senior Center after a successful trial run last week.

Testing will now be performed weekly in the parking lot of the Vernon Senior Center, 135 Bolton Road, on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The town of Vernon, the North Central District Health Department and Priority Urgent Care in Ellington are teaming up to host drive-up the coronavirus testing pogram.

Testing will be available to both those showing symptons and those who just want to get tested, said Dr. Daksh Rampal, the owner and co-founder of Priotity Urgent Care.

Rampal said pre-screening and registration is "strongly encouraged to expedite the testing process." Both an be done through telemedicine evaluations at Priority Urgent Care (860-454-0678) or www.priorityuc.com.

Last week, a total of 99 tests were administered.

Dr. Daksh Rampal, the medical director and co-founder of Priority Urgent Care., said the drive-up testing was something he has been wanting to host, but adequate personal protective equipment was not available until last week. Vernon officials were able to secure the PPEs, he said.

Dr. Rampel said anyone who wants to be tested will be tested, "regardless of ability to pay." He said anyone with billing questions can call the clinic.

Blood tests to screen antibodies will not be performed at the drive-up service, but will be done at the clinic, he said.

Dr. Rampal said as testing has become more readily available, the numbers of confirmed cases has gone up. But the number of hospital admissions is dropping at the same time, he said.

Michael Purcaro, Vernon's town administrator and emergency and risk management director, said the program was a natural progression to what Vernon has already done — a pair of budget-related drive-up town meetings and subsequent votes, along with a drive-up system through which thousands of free school meals have been distributed since early March.