Levine: Arena ‘best place’ for mass testing site

WILKES-BARRE TWP. — Pennsylvania officials are moving forward with plans to open a mass drive-through coronavirus testing site at the Mohegan Sun Arena parking lot in Wilkes-Barre Township, state Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said Wednesday.

“We determined this is the best place to hold this mass testing site,” Levine said. “We feel very strongly this will be the best site.”

Levine said the state health department has been working very closely with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency on the plan to open the regional Northeastern Pennsylvania site at the arena and also had “extensive contact” with local authorities.

The state already has developed plans on how to route traffic through that area, she said, noting an announcement will be made soon.

Arena board

Gary Zingaretti, chairman of the county Convention Center Authority that oversees the facility, said the arena was always considered a potential site for any emergency response, long before the coronavirus pandemic, because it has a large parking lot and easy access off Interstate 81.

The arena structure won’t be involved in the coronavirus testing, which means nobody will be inside the building to create the need for future disinfecting, he said.

There is no cost to the authority because its staff won’t be providing any work related to the testing site, Zingaretti said. Although the authority is not charging for use of the parking lot due to the emergency, the state will reimburse the authority for any expenses, which would primarily be for use of exterior lighting, he said.

While the state told officials the site may be operational as early as Sunday, Zingaretti said a start date had not been conveyed as of Wednesday afternoon. His board plans to hold a virtual meeting Friday to vote on a contract, which would include a state traffic plan for those appearing for testing to enter and exit the parking lot.

Zingaretti stressed the state ultimately has the right to use any facility in an emergency, and board members must concentrate on the contract itself instead of their personal views on arguments raised by critics that the location’s proximity to stores and other businesses will entice potentially infected test takers from other areas to shop here.

County response

County Manager C. David Pedri said the state health department had reached out and requested county assistance from the sheriff’s department, emergency management agency, 911 and operational services, which includes building and grounds, he said.

The state would provide reimbursement for all county staff and resources provided at the site, Pedri said, emphasizing the state will provide personnel for all testing and appointment scheduling.

While he declined to enter the debate about site selection, Pedri said the county agrees with the medical community that more testing is needed in the area.

Local hospitals and other medical providers have been asking for additional testing in the region, and Pedri said he has been forwarding those requests for outside state and federal testing assistance.

“The county agrees with our medical community that additional testing is needed and will provide whatever assistance we could to protect our citizens,” Pedri said.

Hospitals can’t fully satisfy the demand for testing due to limited resources and test availability, Pedri and other officials have said.

The percentage of new cases has decreased here and statewide, but so have the number of tests administered.

“This sudden shift could lead to a false sense of security due to the lack of testing here,” Pedri said.

Levine had acknowledged more testing is needed, confirming a statewide test count around 4,000 Tuesday compared to 7,000 on April 7.

She had attributed much of this decline to the closure of two mass drive-through coronavirus testing sites in Montgomery County and Philadelphia. The Montgomery testing location reopened Wednesday at a new location in that county, and Philadelphia opted to absorb testing at other sites instead of keeping a mass drive-through one.

The state continues to work on addressing a shortage in coronavirus test kits that has reduced testing primarily to those who are exhibiting symptoms, exposed to someone with or suspected of having the disease and health care workers, police and first responders, Levine said.