Drive-thru testing for covid-19 will be available next week at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium.

Starting Monday morning, testing by the Central Outreach Wellness Center will be available at the zoo’s main parking lot in Pittsburgh’s Highland Park neighborhood, zoo officials announced Friday night.

Referrals or prescriptions are not required to receive testing — but officials urged anyone who does not have symptoms to stay home to keep from getting infected. Symptoms of covid-19, the highly contagious disease caused by the novel coronavirus, include fever, worsening dry cough, sore throat and shortness of breath.

The zoo’s testing site builds on efforts to roll out more testing options around the region by major health providers as well as smaller organizations. Officials seek to avoid inundating hospitals and emergency rooms.

Earlier this week, Central Outreach Wellness Center — which typically focuses on providing health care services to the LGBTQ+ community — conducted drive-up testing at locations on the North Shore, Aliquippa and Washington.

Anyone who arrives for testing is asked to bring a photo ID and insurance card.

Nobody will be turned away because of an inability to pay.

The first of four Allegheny Health Network drive-up coronavirus test sites opened Wednesday in the parking garage adjacent to AHN’s Wexford Health + Wellness Pavilion in Pine. The three other sites are opening in Monroeville, Bethel Park and Erie.

UPMC opened a testing facility in Pittsburgh’s South Side on Tuesday.

UPMC officials said the health system’s internally developed covid-19 test has turnaround times of eight to 12 hours. The system now is able to test 80 specimens per day, and officials expect that number to double by next week.

Testing facilities are also expected to be added next week throughout the system, including Altoona, Erie, Harrisburg and Williamsport.

Testing at the zoo will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The zoo is located at 7370 Baker Street, near where Route 8 meets the Highland Park Bridge.

For more information, call 412-515-0000.

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