KINGSTON – Ulster County now has a mobile rapid response team including a rapid mobile testing vehicle as the coronavirus pandemic rages on.
The vehicle, equipped with four rapid testing machines and staffed by public health nurses, will be dispatched to high-risk locations identified as potential clusters in order to screen out positives as quickly as possible.
The rapid testing machines and testing kits were provided by the State Health Department.
The kits will primarily be used to assist school districts, congregate care facilities, and other identified clusters. They will not be available to the general public due to limited supplies.
The rapid testing devices will be able to run eight tests per hour and the results should come back within 30 minutes.
County Executive Patrick Ryan said the new testing capability “will help slow the spread of COVID-19 by expanding our ability to reach and identify potential clusters while also improving our turnaround time, allowing us to instantly test key facilities and populations.”
