Coronavirus: Drive-thru testing center opens today at Mercer County Fairgrounds

CELINA — Mercer Health will open a drive-thru testing center for the COVID-19 coronavirus at the Mercer County Fairgrounds Wednesday morning, the health network announced in a Facebook post late Tuesday.

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Like similar drive-thru tests across the state, only people with an order from a primary care provider can receive a test. People without an order who drive to the fairgrounds seeking a test will be turned away, Mercer Health said.

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The drive-thru will open at 9 a.m. Wednesday and operate until 5 p.m. at the fairgrounds, located at 1001 West Market Street in Celina. The testing center will operate during the same 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. time frame Monday through Friday.

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Tests will not be available at Mercer County Health District officers or physician offices.

If you suspect you have symptoms of COVID-19, you are asked to first contact your primary care provider to receive a phone based triage. If other upper respiratory ailments have been ruled out, a test could be ordered.

“Only the individuals who have been directed by their primary care provider and who have an order from them for the testing will be screened,” the health network said in the social media post. “There currently is very limited supply of testing materials in our region and the majority of the testing supplies are being reserved for our sickest patients.”

For questions about the testing center, Mercer Health says to call 419-678-5395.

For other questions about COVID-19 and the response in Ohio, call the Ohio Department of Health’s hotline at 1-833-427-5634.