Clark County Health Commissioner Charlie Patterson said this outing allowed for more staffing and testers. The previous pop-up testing had the added challenge of battling winds about 50 miles per hour.
“That was more clunky. We have enough to test at least 1,000 people today and our transportation to the lab should be easier,” he said.
The goal was to have the results processed in a two-day turnaround.
Patterson suggested two specific reasons for this clinic: The recent Thanksgiving holiday, in which some people were involved in gatherings, and the continued high level of positive cases locally. Patterson said on Saturday, 76 people with COVID-related symptoms were patients at Springfield Regional Medical Center, or about 30 percent of the total patients.
This also helps alleviate the pressure on the various sites that offer COVID testing, which are always busy according to Patterson.
Married couple Abigail Stogdale and Curtis Lemon just arrived in the U.S. on Friday from their home in London, England. They attended the clinic to visit his grandparents, who are in their 90s.
“We wanted to follow the guidelines. We’ve hardly left our house,” said Lemon, a Southeastern High graduate who works as a boat captain, while his spouse is a pilot.
Stogdale gave birth in May in London, which came during a peak time of the pandemic.
“Leading up to it, there were a lot of unknowns,” Lemon said. “The largest concern was getting into the hospital and if I could be in for the birth or if I’d have to wear a hazmat suit. Things turned out OK.”
Testing helped with the couple’s peace of mind. They are staying with family for two months here before moving to Kenya, where Stogdale is from, for work in 2021, hoping to visit the lights at Clifton Mill among their activities during the stay.
Stogdale said the test’s nose swabbing tickled more than anything else.
Some of the younger people getting tested had varied experiences. One teen was in tears before one of the testers had her laughing by the time it finished.
Brandi Garberich got tested a second time, the first coming in November, and came to Sunday’s clinic with 4-year-old daughter Evie. She had no trouble getting the test, smiling afterward.
Garberich liked that the procedure took just about 25 minutes total from arrival to testing.
On Friday, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced Ohio will receive its first batches of COVID-19 vaccine around Dec. 15. Patterson is enthused, but also emphasized patience and continued safety protocols as it will take numerous steps to roll out the vaccine and not a one-and-done.
“I’m excited. But this will still take several more months. If we can get through this it will get a lot better,” he said.
Patterson said the possibility of future pop-up testing clinics will depend on the demand. The health district and other organizations offer testing throughout the week with hours and locations available on the CCCHD’s website.
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