With only days until Thanksgiving and new travel mandates in place, people are scrambling to get tested for COVID-19

PITTSBURGH — With new out-of-state travel mandates in place and only days until Thanksgiving, people are scrambling to get tested.

COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations have skyrocketed the last two weeks in the area, causing more people to seek tests.

Depending on where you go, according to health officials, waiting for results might take longer.

Channel 11′s news exchange partners at TribLIVE found out that some places won’t test you if you don’t have symptoms, even though you may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19.

Health officials suggest you call your doctor first for advice on testing and the severity of your symptoms.

The area’s two major health care providers offer testing at their hospitals and urgent care centers, but they differ on criteria: UPMC provides testing with a doctor’s order, while Allegheny Health Network patients must be experiencing COVID-19 symptoms to be tested at all of its test sites.

Here are several locations across the area where you can make appointments to get tested:

• In Allegheny County — Med Express in Robinson Township and Greentree Medical Center in Pittsburgh.
• In Westmoreland County — CVS in Latrobe and Excela Health mobile testing in Greensburg.
• In Washington County — MedExpress in Washington and CVS in Belle Vernon.

Those are just some of your options.

The fastest test available is an antigen test. It takes only 15-30 minutes for results to be processed. There are other rapid tests, but results could take up to five days, depending on where you go.

With holiday travel looming, health officials urge you to call the test sites first to make inquiries.

CDC issues warning ahead of Thanksgiving travel

Cox Media Group