Nine new Community Testing Centers (CTCs) to increase COVID-19 testing will open across the commonwealth, according to the Virginia Department of Health (VDH).
The centers will be near or on the same property as existing VDH Community Vaccination Centers (CVCs) in Charlottesville, Chesterfield, Fairfax, Fredericksburg, Newport News, Norfolk, Prince William, Richmond and Roanoke that have been operating since October, a press release states.
In Patrick County, local test sites include Walgreens, 140 S. Main St., Stuart.
In Henry County and Martinsville, the VHD website lists several new testing sites:
Armory, 315 Commonwealth Blvd. (look for large signs outside for dates; often Fridays, 3-7 p.m.)
Walgreens, 103 Commonwealth Blvd.
CVS, 2725 Greensboro Road
CVS, 3011 Virginia Ave.
PATHS, 287 Commonwealth Blvd.
Ridgeway Family Medicine, 4944 Greensboro Road
Walgreens, 2707 Greensboro Road
Walgreens, 3590 Virginia Ave.
Local libraries (but call first to arrange to pick up an at-home test)
The centers will offer Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests, the most reliable form of testing for COVID-19 and will supplement numerous locally coordinated Community Testing Events.
CTC test results will be automatically sent via text or email message to individuals being tested, based on the information provided in the appointment system.
The website notes that free testing is primarily for those who are uninsured, underinsured, or receive Medicare or Medicaid; contact the testing center for more information.
The new centers are expected to administer more than 50,000 tests this month.
The centers will be funded with an initial $5 million from the VDH, which is seeking FEMA funding to reimburse expenses and continue testing deployment.
The VDH urges people to get tested if they have symptoms, or if they have come into close contact with someone with COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status. VDH recommends testing on day 5 after exposure, although testing on days 3-5 is also acceptable.
Because of the high demand on testing and on the health system, if you do not have symptoms or a known exposure, VDH encourages people to postpone any non-essential travel or events that would prompt them to test beforehand.
To find a site near you, visit https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/protect-yourself/covid-19-testing/covid-19-testing-sites/.
