There are now a variety of ways to get tested for COVID – when those tests are available. WMRA's Randi B. Hagi reports.
As local hospitals got swamped by the Omicron surge last month, healthcare providers asked those with mild COVID symptoms to go somewhere other than an emergency department to get tested. But what are your other options, especially if you don't have a primary care provider?
The Central Shenandoah Health District is currently holding free testing clinics for those with symptoms or a known exposure at the Augusta County Government Center Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Hillandale Park in Harrisonburg on Mondays and Thursdays from 9 to 11 a.m.
Jordi Shelton, communications specialist for the health district, said walk-ins are available, but she encourages people to make an appointment online ahead of time. Slots usually become available on their website 72 hours before each clinic.
JORDI SHELTON: Right now, we're really encouraging folks to get tested if you have COVID-19-like symptoms, so fever, sore throat, runny nose, loss of taste or smell; if it's been at least five days after you've come in close contact with someone with COVID-19; or you might be going to gather with a group of people, especially those with a risk of severe disease or might not be up to date on their COVID-19 vaccine.
These clinics currently have PCR lab tests – which are better at detecting COVID than the at-home or rapid tests, but they do take a few days to process.
SHELTON: PCR is going to be a little bit more sensitive, so it can detect smaller amounts of virus sooner than a rapid test, but of course, a rapid test is really convenient because you're going to find out your results within 15 minutes versus up to 72 hours for a PCR test.
The Virginia Department of Health also has an interactive webpage where you can search for testing sites near you, including pharmacies and urgent care centers. WMRA called around the valley to see what kinds of tests they offer, and how much you may have to pay for them.
Walgreens has rapid antigen tests available at many locations for free, with no insurance required. You do have to make an appointment, though.
CVS has lab PCR, rapid-result PCR, and rapid antigen tests available at many locations that you can make an appointment online for. The virtual assistant on their phone line advised that those with symptoms will have their test fees covered either by insurance or CARES Act funding, but asymptomatic people getting tested for things like travel clearance will have to pay $139. Some stores also have at-home test kits available for about $40, but it's worth calling your store ahead of time to see if they're in stock.
Medexpress clinics in Charlottesville and Harrisonburg offer both rapid and PCR tests – if you don't have insurance, though, rapid tests cost $189, and PCR tests $129 – and there may be an extra lab fee with that one.
Valley Urgent Care in Harrisonburg charges $357 for both rapid and PCR tests for patients without insurance.
VelocityCare in Lexington only offers tests for symptomatic patients referred by their healthcare providers.
The federal government has funded four free at-home tests per American household to be delivered by USPS – you can order those online, although a notice on the website says that, due to high demand, they're fulfilling orders as supplies come in. I placed an order on January 31st, and am still waiting on the tests to arrive.
Another way to get hold of at-home test kits, while supplies last, is through a partnership between the Virginia Department of Health and public libraries. According to the library systems' websites, Massanutten Regional Library and Handley Regional Library still have some in stock – several others throughout the valley and Charlottesville have run out.
Kristin Noell, a reference librarian at Massanutten Regional, said they've been passing out about 200 tests per week since late December.
KRISTIN NOELL: Currently, they are having supply chain issues, and they have run out of access to tests, so what we have now is what we have now, but we are hoping that we will hear that we will get more.
She said their current supply will last them a few weeks at the rate they've been going. Community members can pick up two tests per person at the Central Library in Harrisonburg by coming up to the library's back entrance on Federal Street and calling the phone number posted on the door.
Noell said this kind of outreach fits into their mission as a public library.
NOELL: We want to make sure that our residents are living our best lives, and in these times, you know, part of that is making sure that they have access to testing. … VDH specifically chose libraries because they knew that we would reach people that they wouldn't otherwise be able to reach.
With these library-supplied tests, you do need internet access, a photo ID, and a phone or other device with a camera, speaker, and microphone to communicate with a testing guide who will walk you through the steps of swabbing your own nose.
