SYRACUSE, NY – By 9 a.m. today, 38 people had registered to get tested for coronavirus at the Syracuse Community Health Center.

Derrick Murry, the center’s chief operating officer, said he expects the number of people seeking testing to grow “exponentially.”

The center at 819 S. Salina St. launched the testing program today primarily for people who don’t have doctors. The program is designed to prevent hospital emergency rooms from getting too crowded.

Before going to the center, people who think they should be tested are being asked to call a hotline at Upstate University Hospital, 315-464-3979. If Upstate call-takers recommend testing, they refer patients to the health center.

Syracuse police officers were directing traffic in the center’s parking lot this morning.

Medical staff dressed in protective gowns met patients at their cars, gave them face masks and escorted them into the center for testing.

The center’s goal is to get each patient tested within five minutes, Murry said.

The center had three doctors, one nurse practitioner, four nurses and four medical assistants operating the testing program today.

Murry said the center is seeking nurses, paramedics and other heath professionals to volunteer at the test site. He said volunteers can call the health center at 315-476-7921.

“Everyone in the community is aligned to fight this public health crisis,” he said.

James T. Mulder covers health news. Have a news tip? Contact him at (315) 470-2245 or jmulder@syracuse.com

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