February 1, 2022
Media Contact: Jordi Shelton, communications specialist, Central Shenandoah Health District, Jordan.shelton@vdh.virginia.gov
Central Shenandoah Health District Offering Free COVID-19 Testing
(Staunton, Va.) — The Virginia Department of Health’ Central Shenandoah Health District will offer free Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing for COVID-19 as part of the Increasing Community Access To Testing (ICATT) partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The Virginia Department of Health is receiving support from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ICATT program to open these new testing locations. ICATT partners with pharmacies and commercial laboratories nationwide to provide testing resources to underserved communities at no-cost to the public. Federally contracted vendor eTrueNorth will operate these sites in collaboration with VDH.
“We are excited for this partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services so we may continue to provide free COVID-19 testing opportunities in our community,” said Dr. Elaine Perry, Interim Director of the Central Shenandoah Health District.
The testing will be offered weekly at the Augusta County Government Center. The testing will be available in the health district for a three week period in order to help meet increased public demand for testing during this current surge in cases.
The testing clinic is open this week, Wednesday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Testing will continue weekly, beginning next week, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. at the Augusta County Government Center; 18 Government Center Ln, Verona, VA 24482.
Appointments are not required, but supplies are limited and an appointment will reduce your wait time. To schedule an appointment, visit https://doineedacovid19test.com/ or call 1-800-635-8611.
VDH recommends COVID-19 testing for the following people:
- People who have symptoms of COVID-19.
- People who have come into close contact with someone with COVID-19 should be tested to check for infection at least 5 days after they last had close contact with someone with COVID-19. The date of the last close contact is considered day 0.
- People who are not up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines who are prioritized for expanded community screening for COVID-19.
- People regardless of vaccination status who have been asked or referred to get testing by their school, workplace, healthcare provider, state, tribal, local, or territorial health department.
- People who plan to travel or who have recently returned from travel with some exceptions for fully vaccinated people
- If possible, people who participate in activities that are at higher risk for COVID-19 exposure (e.g. attending large events where social distancing is not possible, or being in crowded indoor settings).
- If possible, people who plan to visit someone at high-risk for developing severe COVID-19.
To anonymously report a positive result or to download COVIDWISE, the free exposure notifications app, visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/covidwise. To learn more about testing, find additional testing locations and to find out what to do after a test, visit the VDH testing page. You can also get a copy of your vaccination record with QR code on the VDH Vaccination Record Request Portal.
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