GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Drive-thru test sites are opening at several local hospitals to protect patients and workers from being exposed.
“Right now we have four of them constructed, working on a 5th and 6th. They’re construction trailers and are meant to be used so we can send patients to be tested,” said Dr. Ashok Rai from Prevea.
Dr. Rai said the test sites aren’t meant to be used by everyone. If you’re experiencing coronavirus symptoms, call your doctor first and then you may be recommended for testing.
“Whether it’s Prevea, St. Mary’s, St. Vincent, Aurora we are not offering testing for random drive-ups. You will be turned away because we need you at home,” he said.
There is still a shortage of COVID-19 testing kits in the state, and there are dozens of people waiting for results due to a backlog in testing.
“We hope over the next couple of weeks, testing will be more available to us, meaning the swabs required to get the sample out of your nose and the machine required to run the test. Then we can open up to actual drive-thru testing,” added Dr. Rai.
While healthcare experts continue working around the clock to get these sites up and running, Rai said people should continue using safe practices like washing your hands, staying home and social distancing.
