As cases rose to all-time highs after the holidays, the demand for COVID tests has skyrocketed.

That can make it frustrating for people who are waiting in lines for more than three hours and anxiously await the results of their COVID tests, which have taken longer to come back due to the high demand.

Robert S. Dolansky Jr. DO, MBA, St. Luke’s University Health Network Director of Urgent Care Services, said, “The recent spike has been quite a challenge.”

“The delay in test results was basically a supply/demand problem,” Dolansky said. “The demand for a test outnumbered the capacity of the hospital laboratory analyzers and the reagents needed to run the PCR COVID tests.

“This was the same issue with the home testing kits - it is quite difficult to get a COVID test at any pharmacy. This is not just a regional shortage, but I think we’ve all seen that this is a national shortage.”

PCR is the percentage of all coronavirus tests performed that are actually positive.

This helps public officials determine the level of transmission in the community.

Dolansky discussed the impact to the region, and noted that up to 40% of the PCR swabs being run at St. Luke’s are resulted as positive.

“This is affecting all aspects of the hospital - primary care offices, Care Now urgent care, ER, and hospital admissions,” he said. “This is best exemplified by the hospital admissions: the 2020 peak in late December 2020 showed a max hospitalization of 270 patients in all St. Luke’s hospitals.

“Last week, the hospital admissions peaked at 385 patients admitted,” he said. “This is trickling down to the ER, Care Now and PCP offices with increased wait times.”

Across the state last week, 5,994 people were hospitalized with more than 600 on ventilators.

Dolansky said that only 11% of the patients in the ICU and 20% of the overall admitted patients at St. Luke’s, have been vaccinated.

“So, even though vaccinated individuals are getting COVID, it is more protective against a more severe disease course,” he said. “Latest information this (Monday) afternoon from the St. Luke’s lab is that the results for the PCR COVID tests are now taking as little as 24-48 hours to be completed.”

Carbon County logged in 688 new cases last week, compared to 542 the week before, with the PCR rate at 33.1%

Monroe County is above the state average of 34.1 PCR with a 43.3 rate, and 2,676 cases.

Schuylkill has a 34.0 PCR, with 1,103 cases last week.

Lehigh County reported 41.9% PCR and 6,013 new cases last week.

Northampton County logged in 4,709 cases and a 40.9%.

Dr. David Burmeister, chair of the Department of Emergency and Hospital Medicine at Lehigh Valley Health Network, said one in five hospitalized patients is sick with COVID-19.

“As we continue battling the relentless surge of COVID-19 and the needs of other patients in the hospital, we must all work together to save those beds and resources for the critically ill,” Burmeister said.

If you are exposed

“Whether vaccinated or not, if you had an exposure, but no symptoms, mask and monitor for COVID-like symptoms - there is now no recommendation to be COVID tested unless you have symptoms,” Dolansky said. “If you have any symptoms, mask, quarantine and assume you might have COVID.”

Dolansky recommended to contact their primary care doctor, and they can help them get tested in the most efficient manner.

“If you’ve taken a home COVID test and it is positive, there is no need to confirm the positive test with the hospital PCR test,” he said.

“If you have symptoms and a home test is negative, especially if you’ve had an exposure, discuss with your PCP the options for further evaluation.”

Joe Pinto, chief operating officer for the St. Luke’s Lehighton/Carbon hospitals, acknowledged the situation has proved to be a real challenge.

“The demand has increased precipitously,” Pinto said. “It’s unbelievable as far as the people.”

Pinto added, “You should never really use an emergency room as a testing facility.”

“There’s more efficient ways to take care of testing,” he said. “What we recommend is call your doctor if you have symptoms.”

Pinto said those who do not have a doctor may call their hot­line at 1-866-STLUKES, and they will be happy to help them find a doctor or get an order placed.

He said they may go to their doctor’s offices, or St. Luke’s Urgent Care Networks in Palmerton, Lehighton, Jim Thorpe or Mahanoy City, with one soon to be opening in Tamaqua.

“We have fantastic providers in our Urgent Care,” Pinto said. “We have a vast primary care network to care for, especially in Carbon and Schuylkill counties, with over 46 primary care doctors in over 16 locations.”

St. Luke’s COVID testing resources can be located at https://www.slhn.org/covid-19/testing

The best procedure for setting up a test is to call their family doctor or their child’s St. Luke’s pediatrician.

They should then log into their (or their child’s) MyChart account and start a Video Visit.

Those who do not have a MyChart account should call 1-866-STLUKES (785-8537), option 7. Those who are not a St. Luke’s patient may still call 1-866-STLUKES (785-8537), option 7.

Testing sites available

Rapid tests are available at Pocono Community Pharmacy in Brodheadsville.

Jessica Drinkwater, technician, said they conduct roughly 50 of them a day.

Drinkwater said the tests are available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and cost $75.

“They’re pretty basic,” Drinkwater said. “There’s about a 15-minute turnaround.”

Drinkwater said the pharmacy has been especially busy as of late, and added that within the last several weeks, they’ve picked up a lot with the COVID testing.

“The tests are 95-97% accurate,” she said. “I’m glad to see how many people are willing to take the rapid test as a precaution.”

COVID testing is also available Lehigh Valley Health Network ExpressCARE-Palmerton, according to an employee who declined to be identified.