PITTSBURGH (Newsradio 1020 KDKA) – Long Lines leading into the parking lot of the Pittsburgh Zoo where hundreds of vehicles waited in line for the chance to get a Coronavirus test.
About one-third to one-half of those waiting actually got a test because staff at Central Outreach Wellness Center screened patients in line to see if they actually had symptoms.
"We're only testing those who have symptoms," said Wellness Center spokesman Alexander Young.
"We don't want to overwhelm our staff, we don't want to overwhelm ER's, we don't want to overwhelm hospitals in general."
Testing started at 11a.m.but cars were lined up a couple of hours earlier. By 1 p.m. Pittsburgh Police had to start turning away vehicles.
The testing is so popular in part because patients do not need a prescription as they do at hospital test sites.
They are asked to bring an ID and insurance card if they have one although insurance is not required either.
By early afternoon the line backed onto Butler Street toward the Highland Park Bridge
"People are panicked. People are worried and anxious," said Young. "And what we as medical professionals want them, the public, to understand is that right now it's important to stay calm and hunker down."
Up to 400 tests were administered Monday. Staff will be back in the parking lot Tuesday with another 275 test kits.
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