WMH to Open COVID Testing Site in Pike County

(Honesdale, PA, May 12, 2020)… Wayne Memorial Hospital is opening a COVID-19 testing site at the Pike County Training Center off Route 739, starting Monday, May 18th.  Wayne Memorial Laboratory Services will offer both COVID-19 and respiratory panel tests by prescription only.  The new testing site was initiated by Wayne Memorial Health System (WMHS), along with Pike County’s Emergency Management officials and commissioners.

“The Pike County Commissioners commend the collaborative effort of Wayne Memorial Health System and our Office of Emergency Management to bring this important service to local citizens,” said Pike County Commissioner and WMHS Board Member Ronald Schmalzle. “Increased testing capacity is key to keeping our community safe as we proactively address the challenges presented by COVID-19.”

The site, at 135 Pike County Boulevard, Hawley, will be open Monday-Wednesday- Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Wayne Memorial opened a similar testing site in early March at the Wayne County Fairgrounds.  That site was open seven days a week, but it was not heavily publicized because of the limited number of test materials available at that time. Approximately 25 tests were being done each day, but WMH Director of Ancillary Services, James Hockenbury, said that number has gone down.

“Between a lower testing demand in Wayne County and an increase in available testing kits,” Hockenbury explained, “we are in an excellent position to offer these services to Pike County.”

The Wayne County site will now be open Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday, also from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, with staff alternating between the two counties throughout the week.

To date, Pike County has seen more positive COVID tests than its neighbor. As of May 12, Pike had 441 cases and Wayne had only 117.  Testing is available only to those who meet certain criteria, including symptoms of COVID-19 or exposure to an infected person or an area of significant outbreak.

For more information about Wayne Memorial’s coronavirus activities, visit wmh.org/covid-19-novel-coronavirus or the hospital’s Facebook page.  For information on the virus itself, visit cdc.gov/coronavirus.

Photo:  Wayne Memorial Laboratory Services’ staff, l. to r.,  Angelica Jean-Philippe, Nancy O’Connell and Kim Bates will help provide mobile COVID-19 testing services in Pike County, as they do here at the Wayne County Fairgrounds.