Porter County expands virus testing capacity
Increased screening comes with greater restrictions in effort to stem spread
The Porter County Health Department has doubled its capacity for COVID-19 testing at its Valparaiso site, as well as offering rapid testing for those who are already displaying symptoms.
The expanded testing is at the 4-H Building at the Porter
County Expo Center, 215 E. Division Road, said Dr. Maria Stamp, the county’s health officer.
The county-owned facility had the space to increase the number of testing stations from two to four, she said, adding that also addressed concerns about lines in the cold while people await testing.
“We have not had to have anybody stand outside since we started this,” she said.
The health department also has reworked its scheduling platform so the Valparaiso site can handle up to 10 appointments every 15 minutes, up from three appointments. The Portage location, 6040 Lute Road, can schedule seven appointments every 15 minutes, also up from three.
The health department received increased financial support from the County Council as well as additional funding available through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act that is providing for the increased staffing in Valparaiso, Stamp said, adding the Portage l ocation, which is smaller, doesn’t have room for a similar expansion.
The department also is looking at modifying testing hours, since
the Valparaiso location is now closed Wednesday and the Portage site is closed Thursday. Both locations are closed Sunday.
“We’re trying to respond to the requests and needs of the community,” she said, adding results for the traditional nasal swab tests are coming back in around three days.
The county also has added rapid testing, supplied by the state for people to take within seven days of developing virus symptoms, Stamp said, adding the antigen tests work best if someone has been symptomatic for three to seven days.
Results for those tests are available in 15 to 30 minutes, she said, adding the rapid tests also shift some of the demand away from the regular tests.
The Valparaiso and Portage sites both saw a drop in testing after being closed for Thanksgiving weekend but that has since picked back up, Stamp said, adding the state-run OptumServe site in Portage saw the same thing.
“It took a little bit to build back up after Thanksgiving in terms of demand,” she said.
Regardless of which location people go to or which test they require, Stamp recommended registering online first. Even if someone schedules a time and doesn’t go for the test then, registering i n advance greatly speeds up the process. More information can be found at porterco.org / 1614/ COVID -19-Testing -Information.
Porter County is currently in the red level because of an increase in COVID-19 cases and Stamp implemented additional restrictions that went into place Dec. 6 to tamp down the number of cases.
As of Friday, according to the county’s COVID-19 dashboard, Porter County had 133 deaths from the virus and 40 people currently hospitalized. The county saw 116 new cases Friday.
The new measures include bars and restaurants closing at 11 p.m. and retail shops being limited at 50% capacity.
“We have had some concerns and complaints about the restrictions the health order put into place from bars and restaurants. They may not understand the risks of people staying long hours without masks,” Stamp said.
The health department is looking to educate business owners, not punish them, Stamp said, adding her department has no desire to close local businesses.
“We want them to understand the risk of transmission,” she said.