Nearly 700 Tested Over Opening Weekend Of New Montco Testing Site

UPPER DUBLIN, PA — Montgomery County's new coronavirus testing site was able to test nearly 700 individuals during its opening weekend, officials said late Sunday. The total number of tests was over 1,000 by Monday evening.

The new site at Temple University's Ambler campus opened briefly to first responders on Friday afternoon before opening to the public on Saturday. A total of 680 individuals received tests, and more than 825 individuals have registered for future tests.

An average of around 275 are being tested per day.

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Around 80 members of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard have arrived to help with the testing.

“There has been a lot of limitations in terms of medical facilities," Lt. Col. Richard Lorraine said. "Both in terms of testing, and the proper personal protective equipment to make sure the healthcare personnel are not exposed."

The Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency have also contributed supplies.

The results of many of the tests are still pending.

Officials said the increase in the number of positive cases of coronavirus discovered in the county on Sunday — 33 new cases were announced — was at least partially due to the expanded testing options.

Access to testing continues to be a concern, and county tests are currently restricted to high-risk individuals only, authorities said (detail here). Meanwhile, hospitals are looking at establishing tents for testing sites, and possibly using primary care offices as temporary testing facilities.

Abington Hospital has also set up a testing site.

>>Montco Coronavirus Testing Site To Open At Temple's Ambler Campus

A total of 110 cases of coronavirus were confirmed in the county as of Sunday evening. None of those cases have yet been officially declared "recovered," although most cases involved mild symptoms.

The state total rose to 644 early Monday. Three victims have died in Pennsylvania thus far.