The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
‘Steady decrease’ leads some drive-thru test centers to close
New Haven, Greenwich, Stamford, Bridgeport sites to stay open
DANBURY — Some drive-thru coronavirus testing sites that were an early sign of the crisis to come are being decommissioned this week by the health network that runs hospitals in Danbury, Norwalk and suburban New York.
A “steady decrease in new COVID-19 infections” prompted Nuvance Health to shut down two drive-thru testing sites in nearby New York this week, and announce that Friday will be the last day for drive-up coronavirus testing at Danbury and Norwalk hospitals.
“Starting in early July, COVID-19 testing will be available at Nuvance Health Medical Practices’ primary care locations in Connecticut and New York for new or existing patients experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, or patients previously confirmed positive who require clearance to return to work,” the health network said in a Wednesday news release.
That means for the drive-thru convenience of a mid-turbinate swab, residents will have travel a bit further — perhaps to Greenwich Hospital, Stamford Hospital or to one of the four drive-thru coronavirus testing centers in Bridgeport, Fairfield, and Milford that are run by Bridgeport Hospital.
“We see testing as a real opportunity to keep our community informed by having convenient testing options available for them,” said Dr. Rockman Ferrigno, associate chief medical officer and chair of emergency medicine at Bridgeport Hospital. “We’re interested in supporting our community, and that’s why we have a walk-up testing site at the hospital for people who don’t have access to a car.”
Bridgeport Hospital tests between 700 and 1,000 people daily at its four sites, Ferrigno said. Bridgeport is part of Yale New Haven Health, which tests about 4,000 people daily at its drive-thru sites, including Bridgeport, Greenwich and Yale New Haven hospitals, among others.
A Yale New Haven spokesman on
Wednesday said its drive-thru sites would stay open.
The city of New Haven has four options for people who want to be tested for COVID-19, down from eight.
There is testing at the Fair Haven Health Clinic at 374 Grand Ave. It is available Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. You have to register for an appointment by calling 203-871-4179.
Also, there is testing at Cornell Scott Hill Community Health Center at 226 Dixwell Ave. It is open Monday through Sunday 8:30 am to 4:30 p.m. To register, call 203-503-3000.
Other sites include: Murphy Medical Associates, 1312 Chapel St. at the corner of Day Street. It is open Monday and Thursday from noon to 5 p.m. Visit https://coronatestct.com/ to register, although they have been taking walk-ups
On the New Haven Green, on Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Run by Murphy Medical Associates it is a walk-up site. Register when you get there.
New Haven plans to add more sites later in July.
Nuvance said it tested 48,000 people at its mobile sites in Connecticut and New York since drive-thru coronavirus testing began in mid-March.
The closing of drive-up sites at Danbury and Norwalk hospitals are the latest sign that the worst of the pandemic could be behind Connecticut and New York, even as surging cases in southern and western states are alarming public health experts that progress is slipping away due to people not wearing masks and social distancing.
Early signs the worst of the surge was behind Connecticut were seen when field hospitals built by the National Guard were disassembled in Danbury and other cities, and medical tents for a potential overflow of COVID-19 cases were taken down at Danbury Hospital and other hospitals across the state.
While the focus in Connecticut now is on preventing a surge of cases when a possible second wave of the pandemic hits, state and local leaders are focused on reopening sectors of public life that have been closed. Most recently, those sectors have included restaurants, gyms and hair salons.
“Observing what’s been going on (nationally) things can happen very quickly,” said John Cappiello, a spokesman for Bridgeport Hospital. “Connecticut is doing far better than our poor southern and western states, but we have to remain vigilant.” Nuvance agrees.
“We established the drive-through collection sites to provide residents in our communities and our patients convenient and safe access to COVID-19 testing during the height of the pandemic,” said Dr. Chris Lehrach, president of Nuvance Health Medical Practices, in a prepared statement. “Now as our communities observe a decrease in new infections, we will continue to provide access to testing at locations throughout our health system.”
Patients who want a COVID-19 test are asked to first schedule a virtual visit with a physician. For more information visit nuvancehealth.org/ virtualvisits.
CVS Pharmacies has a number of sites throughout the state listed here: bit.ly/3ilibxz.