Bridgeport hospitals launch drive-through testing

Bridgeport hospitals launch drive-through testing

BRIDGEPORT — As one local hospital prepares to launch a drive-through testing service, another had its first day of service on Tuesday.

Bridgeport Hospital launched drive-through testing for the respiratory virus COVID-19 on Tuesday and hospital spokesman John Cappiello said it was successful, but not overwhelming.

“Thanks to the appointments-only approach, testing at Bridgeport Hospital has been steady (Tuesday) but manageable,” he said in an email.

Cappiello said the hospital is able to book 48 appointments per day between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays and probably around 30 on Saturdays, when the service will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Patients need a physician order to be tested. “Drive-thru, yes — drive-up, no,” Cappiello said.

When patients arrive, they can remain in their vehicles while staff swab their mouth and nose. Specimens are sent to a lab for processing and can be ready anywhere from the same day to five days later.

Meanwhile, Bridgeport’s other major hospital, St. Vincent’s Medical Center, is preparing to add its own drive-through testing. On Tuesday, staff were running drills to get ready.

Hartford HealthCare, which owns St. Vincent’s, announced Tuesday that it was adding the service at many of its hospitals, starting with Hartford Hospital, which began drive-through testing on Monday. That day, there were 34 appointments and 25 people showed up for testing. On Tuesday, there were 84 people booked for testing.

When reached Tuesday, St. Vincent’s spokeswoman Danielle Swift said it was uncertain exactly when St. Vincent’s drive-through testing would open. “The testing site will be opening some time this week,” she said.

Drive-throughs has been touted in many corners as a way to increase testing for COVID-19 and get a better understanding of how many people have the illness. However, some efforts have faced challenges.

Last week, Murphy Medical Associates opened drive-through testing Greenwich, Stamford and Stratford. But, as of Saturday, the Greenwich location was shut down and the Stamford and Stratford locations were moved. Stratford’s new location was slated to open this week.