Gov. Holcomb Announces Large-Scale COVID-19 Testing For Hoosiers

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Governor Eric J. Holcomb today announced OptumServe Health Services, powered by Logistics Health, Inc., will open sites across Indiana in the next seven days to begin large-scale testing of Hoosiers.

“Launching this partnership with Optum further expands Indiana’s COVID-19 testing capacity,” said Gov. Holcomb. “These free tests will be available in locations across the state, ensuring even more Hoosiers who have symptoms or an affected family member can get tested for coronavirus.”

In the first 30 days, 100,000 Hoosiers are expected to be tested. Testing is for any symptomatic Hoosier, close contacts of positive cases, or residents of congregate living settings.

Hoosiers can get tested without visiting a healthcare provider. State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box will issue a standing order for the test for any Hoosier who meets the criteria.

In the next seven days, 20 testing sites will open in Indiana National Guard armories and an additional 30 testing sites will open in the next 14 days for a total of 50 testing sites. Each site will be open for at least eight hours per day, Monday – Friday. A map is attached.

Testing will be by appointment only. Registration will open 48 hours before testing sites open. To sign up for an appointment, Hoosiers will register through the Optum portal that will launch soon and self-report symptoms using an online screening tool. A hotline phone number will be added soon.

Hoosiers will receive results within 48 hours on average. Results will be provided to the patient via a phone call if the test is positive or via an email or text if the test is negative.

Hoosiers will not be charged for testing and insurance is not required. If you have private health insurance, please bring that information with you.

“We have been working diligently to increase access to testing throughout Indiana with drive-thru clinics and strike teams,” said Dr. Box. “By joining forces with Optum, we will ensure that testing for COVID-19 is available to Hoosiers who need it most.”

OptumServe will collect the swabs specimens, and manage the testing and reporting of data. OptumServe is providing its own supplies, PPE, testing kits, staffing and lab – increasing Indiana’s overall testing capacity. The Indiana State Department of Health will continue to target focused testing and high risk populations in its testing.

An estimated 4,400 more Hoosiers will be tested every day in the initial phase. Once all 50 sites are open, as many as 6,600 more Hoosiers can be tested per day.

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6 COMMENTS

  2. The operative words here are, “100,000 Hoosiers are EXPECTED to be tested within the next 30 days” Well, I’m not from Missouri, but I’ll believe this governor when I see the results. To date, Indiana has tested 8,407 Hoosiers out of 6,483,802. So in one month they’ve been able to test only 1% of the population. While 99% are walking around without any knowledge of whether this highly transmittable virus is in their system. They are saying that the state will have 50 sites open, sometime within the 30 days, appointments must be made, and there is no phone number listed here. The next question, governor, is once Hoosiers are tested, how long will it take to get the results to them, if ever?
    I recently had a call from someone who had a family member in Evansville that was displaying the classic symptoms of the Corona virus. The family member went to the family doctor in Evansville who, wisely, had the person cat-scanned or x-rayed right away and found pneumonia in one lung, then began treating the patient for pneumonia and the standard flu. Subsequently, the patient was sent to an Evansville hospital for the Corona Virus test. After seven days with no report back, the patient was told that the test or it’s results were lost. I have been told that this person is doing fine, by the way.
    Pardon me for being a skeptic when it comes to our politicians, but I’ll believe this governor when the results come in.

  3. Mr Barton,

    I am confused I have read a number of your comments over the past week or two and not sure of your agenda. I respect the articles in the CCO although I do not always agree 100% if you need the CCO readership to carry your opinion I believe that is fair, however if you want to promote your publication PAY for in with an ad with the CCO I would expect them to discuss that with you.

  4. No agenda here. But when a politician makes a statement that sounds totally unreasonable, like testing 100,000 Hoosiers in 30 days, it’s my job as a citizen to speak up. Whether that’s in the FREE publication that I publish or on a public website, shouldn’t make any difference. Indiana has, to date, tested only a little over 7,000 of its citizens, about one percent. The governor is now saying that within the same amount of time he is able to test over 10 times that number. If that sounds reasonable to you Mr. “Observer of the CCO” whatever your real name is, then maybe you truly are confused. Stay hidden, it’s best in your case.

    • Dan

      Spot on comments. We agree with your comments concerning only one percent of the Indiana population being tested for the COVID-19 virus.

      How in the world can any Governor or Mayor declare it’s safe to begin normal social and business activities without testing the remaining 99% of Hoosiers.

      Oh, I enjoy reading your monthly on-line publication that appears in today’s CCO.

      Editor

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