New mobile testing site for Coronavirus

New location for mobile testing in Mason City

Coronavirus stinger nine more cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in iowa á one of those in nearby winnesheik county.

Today was the first day of mobile coronavirus testing in mason city.

Live kimt news 3's nick kruszalnicki is live in mason city with the details.

Nick?

George and katie á the mobile testing sites here at the north iowa events center and mercyone's west campus were only open a half day, and in that time about fifteen people were screened.

Tomorrow, they're expecting quite a few more people to get tested.

"today was relatively slow."

But doctor teresa mock with mercyone north iowa says she expects the mobile testing sites to get much busier in the days and weeks to come.

Patients need to have phone approval first before heading down to the fairgrounds.

"based on the screening questions and other things like their temperature and their oxygen level that they're taking while they're in the car they may meet the criteria to be seen in the medical tent."

After that initial triage session á a patient could be sent over to the next phase of testing at the mercyone north iowa west campus.

"there we have a physician and a nurse.

We have the ability to draw blood and do a more thorough physical examination on the patient and at that point determine if they need further treatment."

Don't expect instant results from a test.

It could take a couple of days to find out.

In the meantime, patients are expected to quarantine themselves until they receive a call from mercyone with the outcome.

Doctor mock says setting up these mobile testing stations has been a team effort between multiple local agencies.

"we're just getting a tremendous amount of cooperation from the cert team, from cg public health the reason mercyone north iowa is using such intensive preá screening procedures is because there is a limited supply of testing kits available.

Live in mason city, nick kruszalnicki, kimt news 3.

Thank you nick.

We will post the preá screening phone lines on our