The closing of the Alstom Plant COVID testing site means there could be even longer lines for patients now that there are only three community testing sites left in the area.

The closing of the Alstom Plant COVID testing site means there could be even longer lines for patients now that there are only three community testing sites left in the area.

Those three are LifeSpring Community Health, Clinca Medicos, and Cempa.

“We are ready for any increased load should that come,” said Shannon Stephenson the CEO of Cempa Community Care.

She said she is not worried about the potential increase, because Cempa has been seeing a decline in the number of people seeking testing.

She said the Cempa testing database showed that the first week of January they saw close to 500 people for testing and only say 150 this past week.

“With the increase in vaccinations, you might see even further decline in testing,” she said.

She said even if the number of people being tested spiked again, they are willing to do whatever it takes for the health of the community.

“If there is a testing need, then we will increase staff,” she said, “and if we need to increase hours then we are willing to do that.”

She said they currently have more than 60,000 dollars of funding to help with the resources they need to continue testing at a fast pace.

When asked how long she believed the funding would last she responded, “Right now current projections will be that it will pay through May.”

Past May, she said they will find a way to find additional funding or pay for testing out of pocket as they did at the beginning of the pandemic.

“Our charge is to be champions for the community and that is our mission,” said Stephenson.

She added there is no appointment necessary for getting tested.

If you go to the Hamilton County Health Department’s website to find locations and hours of currently open Community COVID-19 testing sites.

Learn more here!