The Peninsula Health District and Sentara Healthcare have joined forces to offer free coronavirus testing throughout the state.
Officials said the move is to “contain the spread of COVID-19 in overlooked, under-tested, underserved and/or uninsured communities.”
Testing is for those experiencing at least one COVID-19 symptom, living or working in a group setting, or an essential worker at high-risk for exposure. Symptoms or combinations of symptoms include:
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Feeling feveris
- Body aches
- Headache
- Sore throat
- Runny nose
- Loss of taste or smell
- Diarrhea
- In the elderly, there may also be a change in behavior and/or appetite.
Free testing priority given to the communities underserved and uninsured; those working high-risk jobs for transmission; those living in a group setting with high risk of exposure; public housing; homeless; and senior citizens with symptoms, according to a news release from James City County.
Here are the testing sites in the area:
- June 5 — 10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Williamsburg House of Mercy, 10 Harrison Avenue.
- June 6 — 10 a.m.-2 p.m.: New Zion Baptist Church, 3991 Longhill Road.
- June 8 — 8 a.m.-12 p.m.: Toano Middle School, 7817 Richmond Road, Toano.
- June 9 — 1 p.m.-6 p.m.: James River Elementary School, 8901 Pocahontas Trail.
Testing is on a first come, first serve basis. Tents and tables will be set up.
Participants can choose between a drive-through or walk-up” option.
Testing event lines will cut-off 15 minutes prior to end time to help ensure each site wraps up in a timely manner so the team can travel to the next location, according to the news release. Those in line before that cut-off, will be seen as long as tests are available.
Sentara Healthcare staff perform all nasal swab testing. They will call all residents with their results, both negative and positive, within 72 hours of test collection, according to the news release.
However, it may take longer in certain circumstances. Positive results are the teams’ first priority.
For more information, contact the Peninsula Health District at 757-594-7069.
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