Excela Health working on testing center for coronavirus

Excela Health is developing a testing center similar to ones opened this week by hospital systems in Allegheny County to screen patients for the coronavirus, according to Dr. Carol Fox, chief medical officer.

A test at the proposed center would “require an evaluation as well as an appointment,” Fox said. It was unclear when the center might open.

Both UPMC and Allegheny Health Network, or AHN, as well as Central Outreach Wellness Center, have opened facilities around the area for testing of symptomatic patients. UPMC opened a secure facility on Pittsburgh’s South Side that has negatively-pressurized rooms and lobby to prevent air from flowing freely back outside.

AHN on Wednesday opened a drive-up test site in Wexford and plans for three others in Monroeville, Bethel Park and Erie. Patients must have a doctor’s referral or prescription to visit either the UPMC or AHN sites.

Central Outreach Wellness Center tested drivers at their North Shore site this week.

As Excela Health continues to work on plans for its own screening site, officials are working with primary care physician practices to administer tests, Fox said. Officials are being judicious about using the tests — she advised anyone with symptoms to first contact their primary care physician who will determine, with state health officials, whether someone should be tested.

Excela is using the same supplies for influenza testing to screen patients for the coronavirus, Fox said. Those tests are then sent on to a commercial laboratory or the state Department of Health.

“We currently have supplies in place, but replacements for those supplies are on back order at present,” she said.

Ideally, testing is done outside or in an area that has negative pressure. Excela employees are wearing personal respirators and masks to protect themselves from potentially infected patients, Fox said. Staff members take other precautions when a patient may have a transmittable infection, such as the flu.

No cases in Westmoreland County have been reported. Twelve cases of coronavirus have been reported in Allegheny County as of Wednesday. Washington County has two confirmed cases, with one in Beaver.

There were 133 positive cases of coronavirus in Pennsylvania, according to the latest figures posted by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The state updates its numbers daily.

So far, 879 people have tested negative, according to the state figures.

Most people who catch the virus have relatively mild symptoms and can recover in weeks. The virus can be deadly for some, especially the elderly and anyone who has underlying health problems.