Key Updates from the Health Center COVID-19 Survey (Week #13): Turn-around Time for COVID-19 Viral Test Results at Community Health Centers is Increasing, With More Than One Third Reporting Waiting Four Days or More


July 8, 2020

By Jessica Sharac, James Hernandez, Maria Velasquez, Peter Shin, Feygele JacobsWith coronavirus cases increasing in 39 states, the latest Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA’s) COVID-19 survey summary shows that community health centers conducted the highest number of COVID-19 virus tests (176,955) since patient testing reporting began in April. However, while testing is up, so is turn-around time, with more than one-third (34 percent) of health centers reporting average waiting times for COVID-19 (PCR, antigen) viral test results of four or more days. The number of temporarily closed sites also increased to 1,495, or one in eight sites nationwide.The data note is available here.