Drive-thru test site opens today in Ulster
The 300 Enterprise Drive site is by appointment only
Ulster County’s first drive-through test site for the novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, will open Monday at TechCity, County Executive Pat Ryan said Sunday.
The test site, operated jointly by the Ulster County Health Department and Nuvance Health, which operates Northern Dutchess Hospital in Rhinebeck and Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie, is at 300 Enterprise Drive. Officials said the site was scheduled to be open Monday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., by appointment only.
The site was expected to add significant testing capacity and streamline the process for residents to be safely tested, while reducing possible exposure to COVID-19 at hospitals and medical
practices as they prepare to handle an increasing number of patients affected by the virus, Ryan said in a press release Sunday.
Officials said there were 32 cases of the virus in Ulster County as of Sunday, March 22.
A second Ulster County site, in Ellenville, was expected to open later this week.
“Adding this mobile testing site will save lives,” Ryan
said in a prepared statement. “It will provide a significant surge in testing capacity, which will enable us to better treat those affected and slow the spread of COVID-19.”
Ryan said the site will require the following criteria for those seeking a COVID-19 test:
• They’ve called their primary care physician’s office and had a phone consultation.
• Based on their symptoms and other information provided, their physician determined that they meet the criteria for COVID-19 testing,
and have ordered a test.
• They have a scheduled appointment at the collection site. Scheduling information will be provided by their physician.
Those who have a primary care physician should contact the Ulster County COVID-19 Hotline at (845) 4438888.
Ryan said residents permitted by their physicians to enter the testing site will be met by a trained provider who will collect a sample for lab testing.
After leaving the site, he said, residents should drive home immediately after receiving
the test and limit interactions with others. Those who are tested should plan to self-quarantine for up to 14 days, and will receive self-quarantine guidelines at the collection site, Ryan said.
Ryan said it could take up to six days for those tested to receive test results. Their physicians will notify them of the results.
Traffic message boards have been placed along entry routes to the town of Ulster testing site on Enterprise Drive and Boice’s Lane, to direct individuals to the site. Healthcare providers,
law enforcement and three clinicians from Ellenville Hospital will be present at the site.
Ryan said $100,000 in tent supplies for the location were donated by Kingston-based Save-On Party Central.
“I want to thank Nuvance Health and Save-On for stepping up during this critical moment for our community,” Ryan said. “Our entire team will continue to work around the clock to keep every Ulster County resident safe and healthy.”
Ryan said officials planned to share more information about the mobile testing sites
and take residents’ questions in a virtual Facebook Live Town Hall starting at 2 p.m. Monday, March 23.
For additional information about COVID-19 and the mobile testing process, please visit the website https://ulstercountyny. gov/coronavirus or call Ulster County’s COVID-19 Hotline at (845) 443-8888, or the New York state Coronavirus Information Hotline at (888) 364-3065.
For local coverage related to the coronavirus, go to bit.ly/DFCOVID19. For live updates, visit bit.ly/DFcovid19live.