More rapid COVID-19 antigen tests from state sent to Westmoreland County

HARRISBURG, Pa. — A second shipment of COVID-19 rapid antigen tests was sent to several counties in Pennsylvania, including Westmoreland.

The test cards detect an antigen on the surface of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. It looks for a piece of protein that makes up the virus, in other words. The tests are useful in detecting active infection in people showing symptoms.

Last week, Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine issued an order that all antigen test results, both positive and negative, are required to be reported to the Department of Health.

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Sites that will receive the tests include:

• All long-term care facilities
• Higher-education institutions
• Drug, alcohol and behavioral health treatment centers
• State and county corrections facilities
• Health care providers along with urgent care centers, pharmacies and primary care physicians

State officials said they anticipate several hundreds of thousands of tests from the federal government to distribute to areas in need.

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Cox Media Group