Mercy Fitz permanently closes COVID-19 testing site Wednesday; Upland site open through April
MEDIA » Delaware County is conducting public drive-thru COVID-19 testing this week at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital, 1500 Lansdowne Ave., Darby, and the U.S. Army Reserve site, 500 W. 24th St., Upland.
Both sites use standard mid-nasal PCR Nasal Swab test kits.
At the Mercy Fitzgerald site, testing is free and is available for insured and uninsured individuals 12 years of age or older who live or work in Delaware County and have COVID-19 symptoms, were exposed to COVID-19, or are considered critical/essential workers. Appointments for testing can be made for 1-6 p.m. Tuesday, March 30, and Wednesday, March 31.
There are no out-of-pocket costs or co-pays for COVID-19 testing at either site. However, individuals with health insurance are asked to bring an ID and their insurance card. Masks or face coverings must be worn. Individuals who want to come to the Mercy Fitzgerald testing site must pre-register at www. delcopa.gov/testing/. After several months of continuous testing, the Mercy Fitzgerald COVID-19 testing site will be permanently discontinued on Wednesday, March 31. No additional testing will be conducted in partnership with Delaware County at this site as of 6 p.m. on Wednesday.
COVID-19 test results typically take between three and five days. Faster results can be obtained by registering online through the MyHNLAccess portal. Details about the registration process can be obtained during your test and on the MyHNLAccess page that is linked at www.delcopa.gov/testing. The Chester County Health Department Disease Investigation team may call those individuals who have a positive test result to complete an investigation.
The testing done at the AMI Expeditionary Healthcare site in Upland, is on a first-come, first-serve basis for individuals 3 years of age or older. People can come to the site for testing, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 30; Wednesday, March 31; Thursday, April 1; and Friday, April 2. Individuals are not required to show symptoms of COVID-19 in order to be tested and do not have to be county residents. No appointment is necessary at the Upland site; registration will be completed on-site.
The turnaround time for testing results is between two to seven days. Individuals who test positive will receive a phone call from AMI while individuals who test negative will receive a secured-PDF emailed to them from AMI.
The AMI Expeditionary Healthcare partnered site at the former U.S. Army Reserve site in Upland has been extended for one additional month of testing. Originally scheduled to close on Saturday, April 3, the site will now remain fully operational through Friday, April 30.
Individuals who suspect they are positive or believe they have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 should self-quarantine while they await test results. Individuals who live with other people should selfquarantine in a private room and use a private bathroom if possible.
Individuals with questions can call the COVID-19 Call Center at 484- 276-2100 or send their questions via email to: Covid19Resources@co.delaware.pa.us. For the latest vaccine information, visit delcopa.gov/covid.
Volunteers needed for clean-up at
Green Lawn Cemetery
The men of Family Inc. will began clean-up and grass cutting at Green Lawn Cemetery, Concord Road, Chester Township, 8 a.m. Saturday, April 3. More volunteers are needed. They are seeking individuals or groups to support their effort. To volunteer, call 302-544-0726.
St. John the Evangelist Church offers food pantry on Tuesdays
St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church, 16 W. Third St., Essington, offers a Neighbor-ToNeighbor Food Pantry, 5-6 p.m. every Tuesday. The pantry is open to Tinicum area residents and welcomes anyone in need to shop there. The pantry offers foods, toiletries, baby food and diapers will be available.
CADES holds shredding event
CADES, 401 Rutgers Ave., Swarthmore, will hold a Shredding Fundraiser 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 24. Everyone is invited to bring their boxes of paper to shred. For a $20 donation, the paper will be securely shredded, without participants even having to leave the comfort of their car. For more information, call 610328-5955.
Registration begins for Mother’s Day race to support Healthy Kids
Families from the tri-state area are encouraged to start a new tradition with their moms and race in person in the family-friendly “Mom, This Run’s For You” 5K or 5-Miler at Bayard Rustin High School, 1100 Shiloh Road, West Chester, on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 9. Heats will begin at 8:45 a.m. and heats for the Monster Mayhem 5K at 9 a.m.
All runners can start their Mother’s Day by dedicating this to the woman they love and show their mom how much she means to them and their family.
All proceeds of the Mom, This Runs For You 5K or 5 Miler support
Healthy Kids Running Series programs ensuring kids can maintain an active and healthy lifestyle.
Registration includes a pink Mom, This Runs For You Tech-T shirt. Medals will be awarded to first, second and third place finishes within each male/female age group. Registration can be made in advance at https:// runsignup.com/Race/PA/WestChester/MomThisRunsForYou5k
The Healthy Kids Running Series is a twice-a-year five-week program in both fall and spring with age-appropriate race distances for children between two years of age and 14. Kids compete each week in-person or virtually, on a course of their choosing. Learn more at www.HealthyKidsRunningSeries.org.