Centre County Extends Free COVID-19 Testing Clinic Through February

A free COVID-19 testing clinic in Centre County will continue through February, following contract approval by Board of Commissioners on Thursday.

Commissioners unanimously approved a contract with AMI Expeditionary Healthcare not to exceed $316,032 for the clinic to continue operating Feb. 2-27 at its current location, 1155 Benner Pike, Suite 120.

Centre County has offered the free testing site since Oct. 27 — first at the Nittany Mall before moving on Jan. 19 to the former Comcast building on Benner Pike. Prior to Thursday’s extension, the clinic had been set to end on Saturday.

Testing is available 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays, to anyone of any age and no appointment is needed. Photo ID is required. Individuals with insurance will be asked to provide an insurance card, but no co-pay or any other cost is charged. Those without insurance also are tested free of charge.

The contract with AMI is for up to 300 tests per day. As with previous months, Centre County Administrator Margaret Gray said the contract will be prorated at the end of February to reflect the number of tests actually performed. The site has recently been “running far lower” than 300 tests a day, Gray said.

Centre County is funding the clinic with money set aside from its $14.7 million CARES Act block grant.

“I know there’s a national shortage right now of medical personnel, so great to see we’re going to continue testing Centre County citizens for another month for free with no appointments,” Commissioner Mark Higgins said.