{"id":3992,"date":"2020-04-16T16:46:25","date_gmt":"2020-04-16T20:46:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/tomsriver\/?p=3992"},"modified":"2020-04-16T16:46:25","modified_gmt":"2020-04-16T20:46:25","slug":"ocean-countys-drive-thru-covid-19-testing-site-moving-to-new-location","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/tomsriver\/2020\/04\/ocean-countys-drive-thru-covid-19-testing-site-moving-to-new-location\/","title":{"rendered":"Ocean County’s Drive-Thru COVID-19 Testing Site Moving to New Location"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"A<\/a>

A drive-through testing facility at Ocean County College, March 30, 2020. (Photo: Ocean County)<\/p><\/div>\n

The drive-through coronavirus testing site will move from Ocean County College to the county\u2019s fire training center in Waretown, officials announced Thursday.<\/p>\n

Starting the week of April 20, testing will be completed at the Ocean County Fire and First Aid Training Center, Volunteer Way, (off Route 9) in Waretown.<\/p>\n

\u201cStarting April 20, we are moving from the parking lot at Ocean County College to a more secure structure that will be more helpful to the hospital workers and other staff that will be administering the test,\u201d said Ocean County Sheriff Michael G. Mastronardy, Coordinator for the Ocean County Office of Emergency Management.<\/p>\n

Mastronardy said thee training center also provides an indoor drive thru area so it is not subject to bad weather conditions which resulted in the postponement of Monday\u2019s (April 13) appointments at the college, as well as damage to some of the tents that had been placed there.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis new site will be beneficial for both the residents being tested and the hospital staff providing the tests,\u201d said Ocean County Freeholder John P. Kelly, Director of Law and Public Safety. \u201cIt provides an enclosed area that is more efficient for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n

The test requirements have not changed; a prescription is still required before a test can be administered and all those tested must be Ocean County residents.<\/p>\n

Test appointments are held Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and are scheduled in advance for Ocean County residents. The site is open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.<\/p>\n

So far, a total of 1,955 Ocean County citizens were tested for the coronavirus at the college testing site. Of those tests, 1,574 results have been returned. Just under 30 percent of the tests have been positive. All appointments for Friday, April 17, which are still at the college, are filled.<\/p>\n

Residents can start to book appointments with the Health Department at www.ochd.org<\/a> for the Training Center test site starting at 3 p.m., Friday, April 17.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause of the limited number of tests we have, it still remains imperative that people follow the requirements to be tested at the training center,\u201d Regenye said. \u201cWe do not want anyone to show up at this testing site without following the requirements we have put in place. We are not going to do any health screenings at the site. It is just for testing for the virus.\u201d<\/p>\n

~<\/p>\n

Ocean County Health Department officials are reminding residents of the requirements to be tested include:<\/p>\n