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Onondaga County Will Add Diagnostic Tests At NBT Bank Stadium Test Site As Delays Continue

Courtesy Pixabay.com

Onondaga County school district students and faculty are still experiencing delays when trying to schedule an appointment at the NBT Bank Stadium coronavirus testing site. Thousands of calls have flooded Upstate Hospital’s phone lines, resulting in a backlog of appointment requests.

The site currently offers only saliva tests. Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon said they are now working on adding rapid diagnostic testing for parents who need a quick turnaround. 

“It it’s an issue of, ‘My kid has one symptom and I don’t have childcare for tomorrow,’ go get a diagnostic test then if you can’t make an appointment via the Upstate line. These are proactive things that we are doing that other communities aren’t,” McMahon said. “Though you may be frustrated if you’re in another county in New York State that you’re on your own, but here you aren’t.”

The rapid test machine would be able to turn 22 samples every 4 hours. Students in New York State who get sent home with symptoms are required to have a doctor’s note and a negative COVID-19 test in order to return to the classroom. McMahon said he recognizes why people are gravitating toward the saliva test. However, other testing in the community is still available.

“You still can take your kid to go get a test anywhere else, you don’t need to go this this site. You can go the doctor, Syracuse Community Health Center, the other Upstate site. This is the saliva test site, and we know the saliva test is a little bit less intrusive for younger children.”

And because this testing is symptomatic, it will be covered by insurance wherever the test is done. Appointments at the NBT Bank Stadium may not be available for one or two days after calling to schedule one.

Katie Zilcosky is WAER’s All Things Considered host and features reporter. She also co-hosts WAER’s public affairs show Syracuse Speaks. As a reporter, she focuses on technology, economy, and identity.