While wait times for results are shorter and they can administer more tests, the COVID-19 test site at the Westbrook Public Safety building is seeing a big drop-off in patients and could close.

The Fire Department staff is conducting fewer than 100 tests per day compared to previously averaging 100 per day with 200 per day at peak times. The department is “closely monitoring this and if it continues to decrease, we will be forced to close our site down,” said interim Fire Chief Steve Sloan.

“We saw this same situation last spring when testing completely died down when we thought we were at the end of this pandemic, but once the delta variant arrived, everyone needed testing again,” Sloan said.

Hours have already been cut with testing no longer available on Sundays.

“Our staff has done a fantastic job making sure this site is staffed and successful, but they are tired,” Sloan said. “We have been doing this for almost a year and a half and it has been a tremendous ask of them. They have never said no and some have worked an additional 24 hours a week, every week during this time so that we have the appropriate staffing to handle the volume. I can’t even begins to explain how proud I am of them and what they have done throughout this entire pandemic.”

According to Sloan, during the test site’s peak, it conducted over 200 tests in eight hours. Since the site switched to saliva-based tests from nasal swabs, the results have come back in 12-24 hours.

Sloan said they have completed 3,500 tests since changing testing methods and are seeing a 24% positivity rate. Of the 3,500 tests conducted, 1,000 were for repeat patients and 2,500 for new patients, he said.

The test site at 570 Main St. is now open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. To sign up for a test, go to  westbrookmaine.com to find a link to registration.

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