As confirmed cases of Covid-19 climbed to 5,791 in Suffolk County, a second drive-through testing site has opened in Riverhead. The facility, operated by ProHealth, a New York-based medical provider, is the first on the East End.
As of Monday afternoon, 14,230 tests for the virus had been administered in the county, according to its website. Five thousand of those were at a mobile testing site at Stony Brook University, County Executive Steve Bellone said in a press briefing on Monday. The turnaround time in testing can be as little as two days and as much as seven if tests are sent out of state, Dr. Gregson Pigott, the county health commissioner said.
Forty-four county residents have died from Covid-19; 601 are hospitalized, 181 of them in intensive care units. Two days ago there were 409 hospitalized and 162 in intensive care.
County hospitals are working to increase their capacity to meet a mandate set by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo. There are now 2,710 hospital beds in the county, the hospitals lack the staffing and equipment to serve that increased capacity, Mr. Bellone said in a press briefing on Monday.
The county is "racing to be prepared . . . to meet the surge that is coming," Mr. Bellone said.
The new testing facility, at 1149 Old Country Road in Riverhead, will be open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Testing is by appointment only. Those who are experiencing Covid-19 symptoms can make an appointment by calling the ProHealth hotline at 1-516-874-0411.