Samaritan Announces COVID-19 Drive-Up Testing Location Change
Published on: November 13, 2020
Watertown, NY – Samaritan Medical Center is changing the COVID-19 Drive-Up Testing Site to a more suitable long-term location in anticipation of winter weather. The new location will be at the Samaritan Health & Wellness Plaza, 1575 Washington Street in Watertown. This change goes into effect Monday, November 16, 2020.
The new location will continue as a drive-up site, with patients never exiting their vehicle. Patients will enter an existing garage bay and will exit out another bay of the same garage. This indoor setting will protect staff and patients from winter weather and provide safe and convenient access for vehicles. The Samaritan Health & Wellness Plaza is located directly behind the North Country Orthopaedic Group.
Patients who arrive for testing will be directed to proceed straight down the existing main driveway in the right-hand lane and then will enter the garage on the right-hand side of Plaza building. They will have their test performed and will exit the building using the same driveway. Please see the map at bottom.
Currently, the Drive-Up Testing Site is a NYS Collection Site, offering up to 300 free tests per week to any community member that wants to be tested. It also tests all community members who need testing via the Samaritan Resource Line (315-755-3100) and all pre-surgical patients for Samaritan and other surgical providers. On average, the Drive-Up Testing Site sees approximately 50 patients per day. Appointments must be scheduled. To date, the Drive-Up Testing Site has performed over 9,000 tests since its inception in March. It was the first COVID-19 Drive-Up Testing Site in the local region.
Community members who wish to schedule a free COVID-19 test should submit their request on our website and a staff member will reach out to schedule an appointment. If you have any questions or symptoms relating to COVID-19 – including but not limited to cough, fever, shortness of breath, chills, sore throat, or headache – please contact the Samaritan Resource Line at 315-755-3100.
