Berrien County increases COVID-19 testing to include patients with mild to moderate symptoms

 

BERRIEN COUNTY, Mich.— Thanks to new testing equipment and additional supplies, as well as revised state guidelines, Berrien County has increased its COVID-19 testing capabilities.

Testing was previously only done for patients who showed severe symptoms, healthcare employees with symptoms, hospital inpatients with suspected COVID-19, and other high-risk patients.

Spectrum Health Lakeland and InterCare Community Health Network can now test patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms.

Increased testing is dependent on the availability of specimen collection kits and testing equipment, though.

Testing sites still require a doctor’s order.

According to the Berrien County Health Department, since testing began locally on April 9, Spectrum Health Lakeland has tested over 1,950 people and InterCare Community Health Network has tested about 450.

Berrien County testing sites are available for patients with a doctor’s order at:

• Spectrum Health Lakeland Center for Outpatient Services, located at 3900 Hollywood Road in St. Joseph 
• InterCare Community Health Network, located at 800 M-139 in Benton Harbor

InterCare also runs a mobile testing unit which travels throughout the county.