February 3, 2022
Media Contact: Tara Rose, Public Information Officer, Tara.Rose@vdh.virginia.gov
Crater Health District Offering Free COVID-19 Testing
Petersburg, Va. — The Crater Health District (CHD) Virginia Department of Health 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 collaborates 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 to partner with the Department of Health and Human Services and continue providing free COVID-19 testing opportunities in our community,” said Dr. Alton Hart, Director of the Crater Health District. “With the recent surge in COVID-19 cases, the partnership will help ensure testing resources reach communities.”
Testing will be available in the health district for a three-week period in order to help meet increased public demand for testing during the current surge in COVID-19 cases. The test sites will be located at various sites across the district.
February 3 – 6
Surry County: 1239 Colonial Trail West, Dendron, VA 23839
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Drive thru testing site
February 7 – 12
Hopewell: Atwater Soccer Complex, 200 Atwater Rd., Hopewell, VA 23860
February 7 (11 a.m. – 6 p.m.) and February 8 – 12 (9 a.m. – 6 p.m.)
Mobile/walk up testing site
February 14 – 19
Greensville County/Emporia: 709 West Atlantic Street, Emporia, Virginia 23847
8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Drive thru testing site
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.
PCR test results are usually available within a few days, and are very effective in detecting COVID-19 infection, even if asymptomatic. Information on how to receive test results will provided at the time of the appointment.
For questions about COVID-19 testing or a list of testing locations, visit the VDH website or call 877-VAX-IN-VA (877-829-4682), Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
For those still needing a COVID-19 vaccine, please visit or call 1-877-VAX-IN-VA (877-829-4682, TTY users call 7-1-1). English- and Spanish-speaking operators are available. Translation services also are available in more than 100 languages.
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