CLEVELAND — The drive-thru lines at the Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals joint testing centers have reached their capacity as of 12:15 p.m. on Tuesday.
"We continue to test as many patients as we can for COVID-19. Due to an overwhelming demand, we have already reached the number of vehicles in line that will take our caregivers until 7pm to test, therefore, we cannot take additional patients. For the safety of our patients and community, we ask all patients to remain in their cars while waiting in line to be tested. Once a patient has been tested, results will now be released within 5 days on MyChart, our secure, online health management tool," Cleveland Clinic said in a statement.
The Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals teamed up to begin offering drive-thru Coronavirus testing over the weekend. The program allows patients with a doctor's order, to drive through the parking garage at the W.O. Walker Building to get a nose or throat swap tested.
Demand on Monday was so great that the line of cars waiting to get tested wrapped around several blocks and were being directed to weave into multiple parking lots to try and lessen the bottleneck on the roads.
The hospitals added a second testing center starting on Tuesday at UH Landerbrook Health Center at 5850 Landerbrook Drive in Mayfield Heights. Patients should enter off Cedar Rd. onto Landerbrook Dr. (between Cedar and Brainard Rd.)
As 3News pulled up to Landerbook around noon, we saw officers turning people away.
"It's crazy. I got four kids back here crying and coughing," said Sofia White, who was turned away.
She was told she wouldn't be tested on Tuesday because the drive-thru had already hit capacity.
These two men were told the same thing.
"We waited in line for a long while and then they cut the line off and sent everybody home," said James, another person who was turned away at Landerbrook." I find it very unfortunate it because you say, get tested now, but than you're sending people home."
James knows the hospitals are doing their best but he says there's a lot of miscommunication.
"They need to do better with the communication and structure, controlling the flow of people that need help," said James.
A spokesperson for the hospitals says they get through about 35 cars an hour.
No copay is needed for the test, but a UH or Cleveland Clinic doctor's order is required. If you think you may have COVID-19, call your doctor before going to the hospital for further instructions.
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