WESTBROOK – With a new patient every five minutes or so, the Swab and Send COVID-19 verification facility outside the Westbrook Public Safety Building has not noticed any signs of slowdown since it opened two months ago.
The city expects to comply with the constant request for evidence after October 31, when federal investment for the site runs out.
Managed through the chimney department, it has so far administered more than 6,000 loose tests and continues to get an average of about a hundred patients depending on the day, city chimney leader and fitness officer Andrew Turcotte said this week.
“We were surprised, we thought the tests would pass after the students returned to school, the tourist season ended, but that’s not the case,” Turcotte said.
Although the transmission rate is low, with a positive Westbrook Swab and Send verification rate of 1 in 500 among patients around the world, verification is still vital for others traveling or coming only to calm their minds about the pandemic, Turcotte said.
Westbrook and EMT firefighter Rachael Welsh, who led the verification effort, has been at the branch for nine years, never imagined she would be looking for the virus as a global pandemic, but was grateful to be.
“When it started, other people were told they couldn’t get tested, just for other people in fitness care,” Welsh said. “Telling someone that it’s not a precedent when they’re in poor physical condition isn’t right, so I’m satisfied that we can supply you. “
Welsh added: “People are worried and we can give them that relief if they are negative, which is vital in the pandemic. That is interesting. With that, we see other people who are involved or who need to protect others, while they are in a typical EMS day, we passed other people on their worst days, it was revealing to see the network that way.
Only 25% of his tests were conducted at Westbrook residents, Turcotte said. There were approximately 350 COVID-19s in total reported in the city.
They tested other people across the state and the five continents, he said.
“Few other people have access to free low-barrier trials. This has been imperative for us to help low transmission rates,” Turcotte said.
A patient regularly obtains the result of the control in 3 to 4 days. Initially, the site planned to return effects within a day or two, however, this delay has been prolonged due to higher controls across the state and has an effect on laboratories. who analyze the checks, Turcotte said.
Westbrook checks only verify the active virus; show antibodies to the virus before.
“We’re the only Swab and Send controlled through the municipality, and it’s unique, but if you’re used to running with protective gadgets and that kind of work, it’s an EMT,” Turcotte said.
“At first I hit, but now we did. It’s all about answering calls anyway, because our procedures have replaced a lot with the pandemic,” Welsh said.
Funding comes from the federal government’s COVID-19 aid grant, but investment is expected to stop on October 31 lately.
“Ideally, we’re going to hear there’s more federal funding, but we don’t have any news on that,” Turcotte said.
It is imaginable that operations will stop after investment ceases at the end of the month, but Turcotte said the city hopes to continue.
“Other features come with billing people’s insurance, however, we are provided for that, nor to locate a way to continue offering a flexible service,” he said.
To set up a test, westbrookmaine. com or solvhealth. com.
“This may simply not be imaginable without the determination of our firefighters, who are increasingly turning to public health,” Turcotte said.