June 17, 2020
Media Contact: Allison Balmes-John, Allison.Balmes@vdh.virginia.gov, 540-226-1461
Free Community Testing Event in Caroline County on June 19th
(Fredericksburg, Va.) – The Rappahannock Area Health District (RAHD) is holding a drive-thru testing event on Friday, June 19, 2020 to test community members for COVID-19. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Second Mount Zion Baptist Church, 31220 Old Dawn Rd, Hanover, VA 23069. RAHD has worked in collaboration with multiple partners including Caroline Supervisors Floyd Thomas and Reggie Underwood, Caroline County Fire and Rescue, the Virginia National Guard, Medical Reserve Corps volunteers, and the Oxford Mt. Zion and Second Mt. Zion Baptist Churches to coordinate testing in this area. There will be 400 tests available at the event.
“We are pleased to offer our first community testing event in Caroline County. We encourage all community members who wish to be tested to join us for this event, especially those who are experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19,” said Interim District Health Director Dr. Don Stern. “Testing is an important part of our effort to slow the spread of the disease, as it allows us to identify active cases of the virus. These individuals can then isolate themselves from others for a period of time to prevent transmitting the virus to others.”
Testing is free of charge and is open to individuals age 16 and older. You do not have to have symptoms to be tested. The test administered will be the nasal swab that diagnoses active cases of the virus. Antibody testing will not be available at this event.
This will be a drive-thru event and those coming for testing must remain in their vehicles. No walk-ups will be accepted. Those seeking tests should be seated near a window of the vehicle.
RAHD will only be providing testing during the event and not medical care or treatment. For those with medical emergencies or severe symptoms, do not wait for this event and please seek medical attention by calling 911.
Community members seeking testing should register by completing the form available at https://j.mp/2UyqHio or calling the RAHD COVID-19 Call Center at 540-899-4797. A limited number of day-of registrations may be accepted on a first-come, first serve basis.
For more information on COVID-19 in Virginia, please visit http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus.
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MEDIA NOTE: Limited news media access to the test site is available ONLY by advance request and appointment by contacting Allison Balmes-John (allison.balmes@vdh.virginia.gov). Access will be escorted, for the purposes of limited photography and videography from a distance. These measures are necessary to ensure patient privacy and operational security.