Kosciusko COVID-19 Testing Site Must Ration Rapid Tests; PCR Tests Still Available To All
Kosciusko COVID-19 Testing Site Must Ration Rapid Tests; PCR Tests Still Available To All
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Kosciusko COVID-19 Testing Site Must Ration Rapid Tests; PCR Tests Still Available To AllBowen Center on Friday announced its supply of COVID-19 Rapid Tests at its drive-through testing site at the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds in Warsaw is extremely limited and supply shortages country-wide require rationing the popular tests.
The Indiana State Department of Health has issued a memorandum stating that due to supply shortages, Rapid Tests, when available, may only be administered to youth ages 5-18 and adults above age 50 and all must report COVID-like symptoms, according to a news release from Bowen Center. Thus, all other persons requesting a test at the test site will be administered a PCR test (deep nasal swab with results in 3 to 5 days) until further notice.
“If at any point the test site supplies are completely exhausted, we will be forced to temporarily close until another shipment is received,” said Kurt Carlson, Bowen Center president/CEO. “Should that occur, it will not be an employee shortage problem. The test site is fully staffed with dedicated, compassionate individuals intent on serving this community. The problem will be a shortage of test kits. We want to sincerely apologize in advance should that happen.”
Carlson said signs will be posted at the site, it will be noted on The Center’s website, BowenCenter.org, and media will be alerted if the site is temporarily forced to close.
In summer 2021, the free, drive-through testing site in Warsaw administered an average of 100 tests per day, down from its peak of 400 tests per day in 2020 and early 2021. In the fall, numbers began to steadily grow and has continued with an average last week of 200 tests administered per day.
The hours of the site are Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Tuesday, noon to 6 p.m. and every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
English/Spanish language technicians are available to administer the tests, which are free and available to anyone 2 years old and up. You do not need an appointment, a doctor’s referral, insurance or to be a resident of Kosciusko County. For more information, call 574-372-3517 or 574-372-2353.
The COVID-19 testing site opened in October 2020 and has been one of the highest volume state-sponsored test sites in Indiana. The drive-through site is operated by Bowen Center and Bowen Health Clinic on behalf of the Indiana Department of Health and the Kosciusko County Health Department, with assistance from the Northern Indiana Hispanic Health Coalition, Ivy Tech Community College – Warsaw, Kosciusko Community Hospital, WJ Carey Construction, the Kosciusko County Fair Board, Wildman Business Group and DM Trump Construction LLC.
