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Health Board president: More people in St. Lawrence County should seek coronavirus testing

Posted 4/14/20

BY ANDY GARDNER North Country This Week A medical doctor at the forefront of St. Lawrence County’s fight against the coronavirus says more people who think they may have the virus should seek …

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Health Board president: More people in St. Lawrence County should seek coronavirus testing

Posted

BY ANDY GARDNER
North Country This Week

A medical doctor at the forefront of St. Lawrence County’s fight against the coronavirus says more people who think they may have the virus should seek testing.

“Increased testing will help us better understand the extent of infection in this community and assist the Department of Public Health in controlling the spread,” according to Dr. Andrew Williams. He is president of the St. Lawrence County Board of Health. He is also St. Lawrence Health System’s associate chief medical officer, and chief medical officer of Community Health Center of the North Country.

Right now, St. Lawrence County hospitals are testing, on average, about 55 people per day, but some days less. In total, about 1,000 St. Lawrence County residents have been tested, roughly 1% of the county’s population.

“I think people are getting mixed messages about the availability of testing as well as the indications for testing,” Dr. Williams said.

He said anyone showing symptoms of COVID-19 should request a test.

“At this time, anyone with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 -- fever, cough, shortness of breath, unexplained severe tiredness, loss of taste or smell -- and no other known explanation, should ask to be tested. Testing of asymptomatic individuals is only done if it is determined to be indicated by Public Health authorities.”

There are now five testing sites in St. Lawrence County’s larger towns. St. Lawrence Health System runs them in Canton, Potsdam, Gouverneur and Massena. Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center runs one in Ogdensburg. Some local private physicians offer testing in their offices, Dr. Williams said.

“Individuals who meet testing criteria … should contact their primary care provider and asked to be tested. They may be referred to one of these testing centers,” he said. “If you do not have a primary care provider, or you are unable to reach them, please call St. Lawrence County Department of Health who can authorize the testing. Call (315) 229-3448, this is a dedicated message line a PH nurse will call you back shortly.”

He says a game changer for the county would be to obtain rapid testing performed at local labs. That isn’t happening right now, but “this is a priority” and local health officials are “working very hard” to get it, Dr. Williams said.

“Right now we collect the sample locally, but then send the sample to a ‘reference lab’ in another state. The current process results in a two- to three-day delay in obtaining test results,” he said. “Point of care testing would allow results to be determined and communicated within an hour. The distribution of the lab testing kits is being controlled by the federal and state government. Although SLC has a rapidly increasing number of cases, we cannot receive the point of care test kits at this time.”

Patients, both insured and uninsured, can possibly have the cost of a coronavirus test covered.

“Patients will not be turned away due to lack of insurance. If lack of insurance is demonstrated, any fees will be waived,” the doctor said. “Insurance plans are waiving deductibles, copayments, and other cost-sharing for COVID-19 testing when ordered by their physician or Public Health.”

“If you feel that you meet the criteria for testing, but are unable to obtain testing, please contact the Department of Public Health -- (315) 229 -3448,” he said.

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