2nd Camden County Coronavirus Test Site Aims For 100 Tests A Day

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — In the face of a lack of new coronavirus testing kits being provided by the federal government, Jefferson Health New Jersey stepped up. This is enabling Camden County to move forward with its drive-through testing site at Camden County College, officials said on Tuesday.

The testing site on Camden County College's Blackwood campus will open Wednesday, and will be open noon to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, officials said during a news conference Tuesday afternoon. They plan to administer about 100 tests a day, with a turnaround time of 2-3 days for results.

There is no target date for the site to close, but officials will re-evaluate the situation every two weeks. An already established testing site at Cooper’s Poynt Waterfront Park will remain open until at least May 1, officials said on Tuesday.

New Jersey Coronavirus Updates: Don't miss local and statewide announcements about novel coronavirus precautions. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters.

There will be four lanes open for testing, with two lanes dedicated to first responders, the medical community and essential workers. Two other lanes will be dedicated to Camden County residents, although all four lanes will administer tests to whoever comes through and qualifies for testing.

The site will not accept drive-ups without an appointment. All visitors must make an appointment and have a prescription from a healthcare provider to be tested. Appointments can be made at 844-542-2273.

Essential workers as covered by Gov. Phil Murphy’s executive order include employees from grocery/food stores, pharmacies, medical supply stores, gas stations, healthcare facilities, and ancillary stores within healthcare facilities, supply chain drivers, utility employees and civil servants.

“We ask them to put their lives at risk. They have the right to ask us for the right equipment,” Rep. Donald Norcross (D-1) said.

“Expanding testing and making first responders and essential workers a priority is ideal and an overall asset for Gloucester Township and Camden County,” Gloucester Township Mayor David Mayer said. “Moving forward this data will be important to how we fight this insidious virus and assist us in breaking its back as we continue to follow state guidelines to stay at home.

“This is a big step forward to defeating this virus.”

The drive-through testing site at the Waterfront opened April 1, and was initially set to be open April 15. Officials then said the site wouldremain open indefinitely.

With more testing, more cases are being identified, including in Camden, which now has more positive tests than any other municipality, officials said. It’s been a long road to get to this point.

“We began to develop this testing site four weeks ago, but we didn’t have enough testing kits,” Camden County Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli Jr. said. “Then last week, we talked to Jefferson about their ability to provide test kits.”

The county and the health system will operate the site, with Jefferson providing all medical needs for the site. Read more here: County Freeholder Director Blasts Lack Of Coronavirus Test Kits

“The lack of testing creates more problems,” Norcross said. “Fortunately, hospitals are stepping up.”

“Jefferson is committed to improving the lives of our community members,” Jefferson Health New Jersey Interim President Brian Sweeney said. “By partnering with the Camden County Freeholders to open and provide clinical support for this new drive-through COVID-19 testing site, we can make a direct impact in the lives of front-line workers in this battle against coronavirus. By taking care of those who are taking care of others, our healthcare organization will help ‘flatten the curve’ of infection.”

Jefferson Health New Jersey currently has two drive-through testing sites, in Washington Township and in Cherry Hill. For more information, visit: https://newjersey.jeffersonhealth.org.

See related: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know