Camden County has closed two of its COVID testing sites, one at the county complex in Camden and the other at the Health Hub in Blackwood.
A lack of demand at testing sites in January prompted the move, which took effect Feb. 7. County Public Affairs Director Dan Keashen said the move was a step in the right direction, but the county remains prepared to open test sites again.
“The demand has been so low … single digits, for a long time,” said Keashen, who noted that the county has previously closed sites. “After that spike over the holiday season, people stopped getting tested.
“At this point, we never really know what to expect …” he added. “That being said, in the case of a new variant popping up, we are prepared to open these sites at a moment’s notice.”
All testing sites were run by county Department of Health employees who will now go back to their original duties. Keashen noted that they also assisted in vaccination efforts over the last two years.
“Last year at this time, it was all hands on deck,” he explained. “Anyone who didn’t work an ‘essential’ role was helping out at either a testing or vaccination site.”
While Camden County commissioners are pleased that testing demand is down, Keashen said it’s important for them to look ahead at the next challenge: vaccination of children from six months to 5 years old. The FDA is expected to authorize those shots by the end of the month.
The county continues to work hand in hand with local hospitals and health-care facilities, communicating with them before any final decisions are made.
“We are in constant dialogue with our health-care providers,” Keashen noted. “That includes Cooper, VIrtua, and Jefferson. The county health officer is someone we do a weekly call with to gauge where everything is at.
“If they sense a need for help, we jump right in.”
A full list of available testing sites, as well as local vaccine clinics, can be found here.
