Council Considers More COVID Testing Sites In Moorestown

MOORESTOWN, NJ — On a day in which 25 new coronavirus cases and one new coronavirus death were announced in Moorestown, officials discussed the idea of allowing a testing site on municipal property.

Two companies have approached the township about bringing a testing site to the township, Moorestown Mayor Nicole Gillespie said during Monday night’s council meeting.

One of those companies, Pennsylvania-based Skippack Medical Lab, has proposed a drive-through testing site that could be put up at 1245 North Church Street, the future home of the township’s courthouse.

The other company was not named, but testing would not present a cost to the township, and the township wouldn’t charge either company, Gillespie said.

The township would likely only use one or the other, although Councilman Dave Zipin said he would be in favor of as much testing as possible. Moorestown has had the eighth highest number of coronavirus cases and the second highest number of deaths since the pandemic began.

As of Monday, there have been 1,083 cases of the coronavirus in Moorestown since the pandemic began. There have been 72 deaths, including an 83-year-old woman whose death was announced on Monday, along with 25 new cases.

Countywide, there have been 27,298 cases, 647 confirmed deaths and 65 probable deaths since the pandemic began. Burlington Township has had the most deaths, at 96, and Evesham is tied with Moorestown for second at 72.

Moorestown already has two testing sites, including one at the Virtua Urgent Care on Young Avenue. That one tests 150 people a day, and is not close to capacity, Gillespie said.

The other is a rapid testing site behind the Moorestown Mall that returns results in 15 minutes and charges $75.

“We should make sure we are named as an insured, and we are indemnified in case of malpractice,” Zipin said. “Physicians will be administering tests and giving medical advice on the site.”

“That’s standard operating procedure,” Township Manager Tom Merchel said. “We always make sure that’s in place to protect us.”

Skippack, located at 200 Rittenhouse Circle East, Suite 9, in Bristol, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1981. A representative who participated in Monday night’s virtual meeting said they’ve been dealing with the coronavirus since the beginning, and predicted things will get worse before they get better. He also said people need more access to testing.

The discussion was held during the workshop portion of the meeting, meaning no official action was taken. No council members voiced opposition to allowing testing on municipal property in Moorestown, though, so it is likely council will consider a resolution at an upcoming meeting.