A drive-through testing facility at Ocean County College, March 30, 2020. (Photo: Ocean County)
Ocean County health officials said 166 people were tested for potential coronavirus infection at the county’s testing site located at Ocean County College. The site opened Monday and closed at 3 p.m.
“Things are moving along smoothly,” said Ocean County Public Health Coordinator Daniel Regenye. “We anticipate the same will happen as we move through the rest of the week.”
In all, 126 residents were tested for the virus. Another 40 first responders were tested for the virus, bringing the total to 166. Appointments are required to be tested, as well as a prescription.
“Our appointments are booked for Tuesday,” Regenye said. “But there are openings yet for Wednesday through Friday of this week. Because of the limited number of tests we have it remains imperative that people follow the requirements to be tested at the college.”
The requirements are:
- You must be an Ocean County resident and have identification.
- You must have a physician’s prescription.
- You must make an online appointment at ochd.org.
- You must be symptomatic.
- You should enter the Ocean County College campus from the Hooper Avenue entrance.
Regenye said that any practitioner (including Nurse Practitioner, Advanced Practice Nurse, Medical Doctor, Physician Assistant etc.) who has “prescriptive” privileges in New Jersey can write a script for COVID testing, it does not necessarily have to be a physician.
Regenye suggested using telemedicine to obtain a prescription in order to avoid exposing healthcare workers to the virus.
The telemedicine services provided by local hospitals can be accessed at:
- Hackensack Meridian Health (Ocean Medical Center, Southern Ocean Medical Center) https://www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org/covid19/
- RWJ Barnabas Healthcare System (Community Medical Center, Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus/Kimball) RWJBHtelemed.org use code RWJBH15.
“If you haven’t registered and if you don’t have a doctor’s prescription we cannot provide you with a test. I cannot stress this enough,” Sheriff Michael Mastronardy said.
The site will operate daily from 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. as long as coronavirus tests continue to be available and also weather permitting.
“Residents remain in their cars and medical personnel perform a nasal swab,” said Ocean County Freeholder Gerry P. Little, who is liaison to the Ocean County Health Department. “We are working to make this convenient and more importantly safe for the public, the health care providers on site and staff.”
Once the test has been performed, it’s anticipated to take about three to five days for results to be returned.
