Coronavirus Update: Drive-thru COVID-19 Testing Site At Citizens Bank Park Opens As Cases Jump To 67 In Philly
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The drive-thru coronavirus testing site at Citizens Bank Park in South Philadelphia opened on Friday afternoon as the number of cases jumped to 67 in the city. Philadelphia Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley reported 23 new cases during a press conference on Friday.
"We are clearly in a rapid growth phase of this epidemic," Farley said, adding that 10 of those patients are health care workers.
Eight people in Philadelphia are currently hospitalized with the virus.
City employees and volunteers will work each day at the testing site from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., until their 2,500 testing kits run out.
The Philadelphia Department of Public Health is restricting eligibility for testing at the South Philly site to the following groups of people:
- People who are over 50 years of age AND are displaying symptoms consistent with COVID-19 coronavirus.
- Health care workers who are displaying symptoms consistent with COVID-19 coronavirus, including fever, cough, shortness of breath; hospital and doctors office staff with direct patient contact; nursing home staff with direct patient contact; people who perform Emergency Medical Services duties; home health care staff with direct patient contact
For those eligible for testing, entry into the drive-thru site is only open to people in four-wheel, closed-top, non-commercial, non-recreational vehicles. Walk-ins will not be permitted access.
People who do not meet the criteria will be turned away.
Farley says people should expect a wait while at the site to get tested.
There has been a steady flow of cars showing up to the Citizens Bank Park parking lot since it opened.
Cars carrying symptom-prone patients lined up alongside white tents in the parking lot.
"What we're seeing here is the fallback site for people who can't otherwise get a test," Farley said.
Farley says you should first call your health care provider to see if they offer COVID-19 testing through their health system at one of 20 sites across Philadelphia. It not, you should come to Citizens Bank Park.
City officials say a government-issued ID card, health care facility ID card and insurance card will help ease processing and data collection at the site but are not required to be tested.
The site will be staffed and run by City of Philadelphia employees and volunteers from the city's Medical Reserve Corps. The federal government is providing supplies to the city for this site and is coordinating the delivery of and payment for the tests, and will notify people of their test results in two to five days.
Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel, who is also a member of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, says having enough protective gear is key.
"We know that there is a national shortage of personal protective equipment. Right now, we have enough for our first responders, health care workers and those organizations," Thiel said.
Coronavirus symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath.
CBS3's Chantee Lans contributed to this report.
