The Central Outreach Wellness Center has suspended its drive-up coronavirus testing indefinitely, staff said Thursday.
Alexander Young, director of marketing, said that as covid-19 spreads, testing becomes less of a necessity.
“As more people become infected, it’s less important to know who has it and who doesn’t and to treat it and social distance,” he said. “Not everybody needs to be tested.”
That’s also the prevailing message coming from state officials, including Gov. Tom Wolf, who has said everyone should act as though they have the virus and that everyone else has it, too.
“In terms of who should be tested … it is a fine balance,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said during a Thursday news conference.
She said people with a mild fever and cough who aren’t feeling very ill should just isolate, treat their fever, rest, get fluids and recover.
“It isn’t actually essential that you get tested, and we would assume now that you have covid-19,” she said.
Central Outreach, a North Shore-based nonprofit, had been offering testing at its Aliquippa location and the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. Young said anyone without a primary care physician or health insurance can still contact the center.
Since the center began offering drive-up testing in mid-March, 1,488 people have been tested, according to their data. More than 100 have tested positive, and more than 100 of the most recent tests are still pending.
He said some who wanted testing went to the sites Thursday morning, but testing was not being offered.
Young said the center is offering tests for first responders, medical professionals and other essential employees.
The test results broken down by week are:
• Week 1: 355 tests, 19 positives, four still pending;
• Week 2: 933 tests, 70 positive, four pending;
• Week 3: 200 tests, 10 positives, 123 pending.
