St. Mark’s Role in Testing at Fairgrounds

Got this question from an alert reader,

Why has the County elected to have a coronavirus checking station at the Fair Grounds instead of St. Marks? St, Marks is hurting because they are not capable to play any role in this crisis, so why not do the testing for the virus? Too expensive, not capable, not interested?

Here’s the answer we received from Craig Moreau, Fayette County’s Chief of Emergency Management and Homeland Security:

“There is no cost associated with the way we structured the tent. The billing for testing goes directly through the doctor’s offices or hospital that refers the patient to the tent. The purpose of having the testing take place remote from the clinics and hospitals was to keep the risk of infection down. Testing in the tent keeps contact to a minimum and protects our very limited and valuable healthcare workers. I would like to correct the reader on one part of her question however; St. Marks has had an integral role in all parts of the crisis as it relates to Fayette County. They have been a part of planning, preparation and treatment of COVID-19 patients from day one. They do perform testing on ER and hospitalized patients and have assisted with the testing tent as well.”