Hospital, Health Department to hold COVID-19 testing event

Published: June 11, 2020

IONIA, MI – Sparrow Ionia Hospital and the Ionia County Health Department are combining to offer COVID-19 nasal swab testing at a special one-day event.

The testing will be held from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 17, at the Ionia County Health Department, 175 E. Adams St., Ionia, and addresses the need for increased testing in the county.

Patients will be able to attend without having a physician’s order in advance and all insurances will be accepted. No money will be collected on-site and patients will not be billed for the cost of the test.

A nasal swab (or PCR) test determines whether or not you have an active COVID-19 infection at the time the sample is collected. It’s a molecular test that is reviewed at Sparrow Laboratories and results are usually available within 48 hours.

“Sparrow Ionia Hospital has been working collaboratively with the Ionia County Health Department to ensure the health and safety of our community,” said Linda Reetz, Sparrow Ionia president. “COVID-19 nasal swab testing is another means of increasing awareness and understanding of this outbreak. Again, the goal is to protect the community we serve as our county and state begin to reintroduce people back into the workforce.”

Said Ionia County Health Officer Ken Bowen: “One of the most effective ways to contain any epidemic is widespread testing. We encourage anyone who has symptoms, who may have been exposed, or who will be returning to work to get tested.”

For more information, call the Ionia County Health Department at 616.527.5341or go to their website.

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Sparrow Ionia Hospital is a subsidiary of Sparrow Health System, a member of the prestigious Mayo Clinic Care Network. As mid-Michigan’s premier health care organization, Sparrow includes hospitals in Lansing, Charlotte, St. Johns, Ionia and Carson City, as well as Physicians Health Plan, Sparrow Care Network, and the Michigan Athletic Club. Sparrow is affiliated with Michigan Medicine through the Sparrow Children’s Center and with Michigan State University’s three human health colleges. Through these partnerships and the dedication of our 10,000 Caregivers, Sparrow pursues a vision to be nationally recognized as a leader in quality and Patient experience. For more information, visit Sparrow.org.