Wayne Memorial to close Pike Covid-19 testing site
Lords Valley. The number of daily tests in Pike has dropped to around 10 a day. The hospital’s alternate site in Honesdale will increase from three days a week to five days a week.
| 31 Jul 2020 | 04:11
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Wayne Memorial Laboratory Services staff at the Wayne County Fairgrounds, which will now test five days a week (from left): Angelica Jean-Philippe, Nancy O’Connell and Kim Bates (
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The Covid-19 testing site at the Pike County Training Center in Lords Valley operated by Wayne Memorial Hospital will shut down. Its last day will be Thursday, July 30.
The hospital’s alternate site at the Wayne County Fairgrounds in Honesdale will move from three days a week to five days a week, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Hospital officials say the number of tests being done in Pike, which hovered around or less than 10 a day, was not enough to warrant the staff. At the same time, the uptick in elective procedures at Wayne Memorial, such as surgeries and cardiac catheterizations, called for more testing availability in Wayne. Anyone who is admitted to the hospital for surgery or otherwise must undergo a COVID-19 test prior to admission.
The Pike Center was initially opened at the request of the Pike County Commissioners, who said in a statement: “We are grateful to Wayne Memorial Health System for having provided this important service to the people of Pike County during a much needed time. Local COVID-19 testing sites remain available at Dingmans Medical Center and Wal-Mart (as well as the Wayne County Fairgrounds). We are also grateful to Pike County residents and businesses who are continuing to practice proper health guidelines to help prevent the virus.”
Wayne Memorial Hospital requires a prescription for all COVID-19 tests. Wayne Memorial Laboratory Services offers analysis at the hospital and through an outside service, LabCorp. For more information, visit wmh.org.