Coronavirus: Man dies while waiting in drive-thru COVID-19 test line in Utah

NORTH OGDEN, Utah — A 71-year-old nursing home patient died while waiting for a COVID-19 test in a Utah clinic’s parking lot.

A caretaker and driver from a nearby nursing facility drove a man to the drive-thru testing site at an Intermountain Healthcare clinic, in North Ogden. When the patient’s van arrived at the testing tent, the patient was dead according to KSTU.

Workers tried to revive the patient, whose name has not been released, when he arrived at the tent.

“Testing center caregivers acted quickly and followed correct procedures by immediately calling 911, but EMS workers could not revive the individual,” according to the statement released by Intermountain Healthcare obtained by KTSU.

The clinic told KUTV that the wait time at the clinic was less than 45 minutes, but was not sure how long the patient had been waiting for a test.

Deputy Chief Jeremiah Jones of the North View Fire District told KTSU that the patient was found in “cardiac respiratory arrest,” and added that it could have been caused by a heart attack, complications from COVID-19 or a variety of health issues.

Cox Media Group