The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
Drive-thru
“The only specific I can give you is that it will be a drive-thru,” Arkoosh said. “I want to emphasize that we have a list of critical workforce personnel, including first responders, that will be tested prior to opening up to the public. Later this week, we will release the process for wider access to testing.”
While she is empathetic to the public’s desire to know if they are “positive,” Arkoosh stressed, “testing is not broadly or widely available and even with the new testing site it’s still not going to be widely, widely available.”
“Knowing that you’re positive or not is not going to impact any specific treatment, because there is no treatment for COVID-19,” Arkoosh said. “It’s a very human emotion to want to know but in this moment where our resources are scarce and we must prioritize our first responders, paramedics, hospital workers, people like that, we just have to say we might not be able to answer every person’s question about whether or not they’re positive. That’s just the reality that we’re in.”
Officials have repeatedly said those who have mild symptoms, a dry cough and a fever above 100.4, should call their healthcare provider and stay home and self-isolate. Those who have more serious symptoms that include shortness of breath should call their healthcare provider and follow their instructions and those who are experiencing life-threatening symptoms should call 911, officials said.
County officials on Tuesday announced four new presumptive positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases in the county to 34. The county continued to have the most cases of any county in the state. Statewide, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, there were a total of 96 cases as of 4 p.m. Tuesday.
By Tuesday, neighboring Delaware County recorded nine cases while Bucks County recorded eight and Chester County recorded four, according to state figures. Ten cases have been reported in Philadelphia and one in Lehigh. There were no cases reported in Berks County as of Tuesday.
The new cases reported in Montgomery County include a 72-year-old Upper
Providence woman who is currently hospitalized and the source of the infection is unknown.
“Based on the information we have thus far, this does appear to be a case of community spread,” said Arkoosh, who was joined at the news conference by fellow commissioners Kenneth E. Lawrence Jr. and Joseph C. Gale.
Another new case involves a 31-year-old Lower Providence woman “whose symptoms do not require hospitalization and she is currently at home being monitored,” Arkoosh said, adding the woman had direct contact with a previously identified presumptive positive person in the county and contact tracing is underway.
The third new case involves a 39-year-old Lower Salford man and his symptoms do not require hospitalization and he is currently at home being monitored.
“This individual has extensive travel in the United States and contact tracing is underway,” Arkoosh said.
The fourth new case is a 42-year-old Lower Providence woman “whose symptoms do not require hospitalization and is currently at home being monitored,”