Kean University becomes a testing site for COVID-19
By Emily Robles | Published by April 19, 2020
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread across the world, especially in the United States, Kean University is now recognized as an official testing site for the coronavirus in the state of New Jersey.
“Kean’s Vaughn-Eames parking lot was designated as a COVID-19 testing site for Union County.” Photo courtesy of Kean University Relations
On March 23, the county of Union opened the testing site in the Vaughn Eames Parking Lot at the main campus of Kean University. The site provides drive-through testing only for the residents of Union County, along with first responders and health care workers working in the county regardless of residence, according to the County of Union website, ucnj.org.
“While Kean University will not have any direct involvement in operating the testing facility, the University is pleased to provide a location for such a critical health service to our surrounding community during these challenging times,” said University Relations in an email sent to all students and facility.
Testing is done by-appointment-only by calling one of two numbers provided on uncj.org where a nurse will a caller’s symptoms over the phone. After making an appointment no other primary care doctor prescription is needed according to the updated guidelines on ucnj.org. Testing is free and patients must meet the guidelines of the CDC in order to be tested. Guidelines include having compatible symptoms of COVID-19 or being a person who qualifies for priority testing. Some groups who qualify for priority testing are hospitalized patients with symptoms, symptomatic healthcare workers, patients over 65 years old with symptoms, and first responders with symptoms.
“We approached Kean University because of its location and set up,” said Sebastian Delia, the director of communications for the County of Union. “The parking lot was the ideal size and access is easy. The infrastructure is perfect.”
A nj.com article said, “The Union County facility is being run by the county through a partnership with the Overlook Medical Center (Atlantic Health System) in Summit, the Trinitas Regional Medical Center in Elizabeth, and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJ Barnabas Health) in Rahway.”
Delia said that around 200-300 people visit the site every day. When patients arrive at the site, they are required to stay in their cars with the windows up until they receive the swab test.
“All patients are routed to the lot by security, and are queued to a tent where they are swabbed,” Delia said.
After patients are tested, their results are sent to a laboratory where they will be processed. Positive results are then sent to the CDC for confirmation and the New Jersey Department of Health. According to covid19.nj.gov, those who have been tested will receive a call indicating their results in 3-5 days from the results center.
The testing site is open’s 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. The phone line is available 24/7 to make an appointment.
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