Greater LV to get a mass coronavirus test site from state health department, location still under wraps

Greater LV to get a mass coronavirus test site from state health department, location still under wraps

Jen Rehill

April 14, 2020

Portions of the Lehigh Valley are part of a tri-county area that Pennsylvania health officials have flagged as a hotspot for coronavirus cases and community spread.

As WLVR’s Jen Rehill reports, the region is expected to get a new mass testing site soon.

State health secretary Dr. Rachel Levine says her department is closely watching case counts in Lehigh, Luzerne and Monroe counties — which currently have more than 4,000 cases, or about 17 percent of Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 infections. 

Speaking at a news conference Monday, Secretary Levine said Northeast PA will likely get its own mass testing site soon.

“That site has been chosen, we’re working to get it set up, get the equipment there, the testing capabilities there and we’ll have more information about that later this week,” said Levine.

But Levine did not say where the site would be placed. And even though it’s not inside the  bullseye noted by state officials, Northampton County is requesting a test site, citing concerns about more than 1,100 cases and 23 deaths in the county and proximity to other national hot spots. 

Luzerne County currently has the largest outbreak in the northeast corner of the state with more than 1,400 cases. Allentown has more than 1,000 cases.