Wolf highlights efforts to expand COVID-19 testing

WILKES-BARRE — Gov. Tom Wolf on Thursday said to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, we must continue to understand how it’s impacting Pennsylvania — but most important is improving access to testing for those who want and need to test for COVID-19.

During a news conference in Harrisburg, Wolf and state Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine highlighted ongoing efforts to expand testing across Pennsylvania to ensure that every Pennsylvanian who wants a test can get one.

“Testing also provides us with critical data to understand where the disease is in our communities so that we can take the necessary proactive measures to stop the spread and continue to protect the public,” the governor said.

Wolf said the state continues to work to further increase testing in Pennsylvania, including putting partnerships in place with Walmart and Quest Diagnostics, which provide direct access in many communities, including rural areas.

The governor also said his administration continues to work with laboratories across the state in order to enhance testing capacity in Pennsylvania, particularly as significant national delays continue in receiving test results due to other states experiencing major case increases.

“In Pennsylvania, we are committed to ensuring that testing is accessible, available and adaptable,” Levine said. “Testing, along with wearing a mask, washing your hands, maintaining social distancing and contact tracing are essential tools to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in Pennsylvania.”

Nine drive-thru Walmart testing sites launched on Aug. 5, adding to existing Walmart drive-thru sites in Clarion, State College, New Castle and Edinboro.

“Walmart is happy to assist Gov. Wolf with reliable timely COVID-19 tests via a convenient drive thru,” said Jamie Reilly, Walmart regional health and wellness director.

Pennsylvania has conducted the ninth highest total number of tests for COVID-19 in the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Since the beginning of the pandemic, more than 1.6 million tests have been completed, which equates to 13% of the Pennsylvania population.

At the height of the first wave in April, statewide testing capacity was limited to under 8,000 tests per day. Pennsylvania is now averaging more than 22,000 test results per day, as of Saturday, Aug. 1, and is testing about 4% of the population each month.