Drive-thru COVID testing Saturday at Montrose Area High School

Area health care providers joined forces at the Susquehanna Community School District campus on Saturday, July 11, to bring the first of two drive-through COVID-19 mass testing events to Susquehanna County.

At the test site on Saturday, about 50 people received COVID-19 tests, according to Mary Wetherall, CEO of NEPA Community Health Care.

NEPA Community was joined at the site with staff from Barnes-Kasson Hospital. Volunteers from the Susquehanna Volunteer Fire Department also assisted with logistics.

Tests were administered at no cost to participants. Identification and contact information were collected during a check-in process, so test results can be communicated directly to those tested. The Pennsylvania Dept. of Health is providing all the testing supplies, and test results take about 2-3 days.

Testing is provided to anyone living within a 50-mile radius of Montrose, and all ages are welcome.

On Saturday, July 18, from 9-11 a.m., another drive-through mass testing site will take place at the Montrose Jr.-Sr. High School.

NEPA Community Health Care, Barnes-Kasson Hospital, Endless Mountains Health Systems, along with the Susquehanna County Emergency Management Agency have collaborated to bring the testing centers to the county.

For more information on the mass testing event in the county, call 570-278-5162 or visit www.nepachc.org.

According to Pennsylvania Dept. of Health information released Monday, July 13, the number of tests administered between July 6 and July 12 is 135,631 with 5,560 positive test results.

As of Monday’s report, in Susquehanna County, there are a reported 196 total positive cases, with 2077 negative test results; and 25 deaths of county residents.

Cases related to long-term care facilities in the county are reported at 105 residents, 26 staff, with 30 deaths.

The Dept. of Health reported that it is seeing significant increases in the number of COVID-19 cases among younger age groups, particularly 19 to 24-year-olds. An alert was sent to healthcare providers over the weekend about the changing COVID-19 case demographics, as there are more cases in younger age groups than in those 50-64 and 65+.