Starting early next week, Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital in Yeadon will be the site of a Southeast regional high-volume COVID-19 testing site, it was announced Friday by Acting Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Keara Klinepeter.

The location will be staffed by U.S. Health and Human Services contractors with support from the hospital.

“The Southeast regional location was selected because it is in an area of the state with a high population and a large increase in cases and testing needs,” said Klinepeter. “Delaware County was also selected because of its ease of access in the region and proximity to socially vulnerable populations in the surrounding communities.”

The testing facility will be able to handle about 1,000 people a day, Klinepeter said.

The testing site is funded by the federal government, which will cover clinical staff, testing supplies and laboratory support.

FEMA will reimburse the hospital for any additional costs it incurs for operating the site.

Discussions continue between the state health department and federal officials about setting up another high-volume testing site in the Southcentral part of Pennsylvania.

Regionally, there are eight additional free COVID-19 testing sites in Berks, Blair, Cambria, Centre, Clinton, Delaware, Luzerne and Mifflin counties.

The Wolf Administration, through the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, has reached out to counties, municipalities and health systems to share information about what federal resources are available.

Find out more about this new testing site.

Visit the Delaware County Government website to find out more about COVID-19 testing and other COVID-related information.