Video Courtesy of My MC Media
Two additional Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program (VEIP) locations converted Tuesday to drive-thru COVID-19 testing sites. New locations in Columbia in Howard County, and White Oak in Montgomery County, join three others that opened last week.
Montgomery County health officials partnered with the Maryland Department of Health (MDH), the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), Maryland State Police (MSP) and the Maryland National Guard to offer drive-through COVID-19 testing. If test kits are available, testing will continue on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
“We are pleased to join jurisdictions across Maryland in partnering with the State on this important service,” said County Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles. “We urge residents to work with a medical provider to schedule an appointment for the coming test days.”
Symptomatic or high-risk patients can be tested on a by appointment basis and they must have an order from a healthcare provider in order to take the test. Once they are approved for a test, they will be given a code so they can be tested at a VEIP site.
To qualify for testing at a VEIP site, individuals must:
- Meet testing criteria as determined by a licensed healthcare provider.
- Obtain an order for testing from a healthcare provider.
- Register online and make an appointment at a test site.
Once at the test site, patients will stay in their cars with the windows rolled up until it is time to receive their first test.
Testing requires a clinician to insert a single long q-tip into the back of the person’s nostril for several seconds. Most individuals experience minor discomfort at most, the health department said.
All tested individuals will receive information at the test site with further instructions and should continue to self-isolate at home while waiting for results. Test results will be available in approximately three to four days. If symptoms worsen, patients should immediately call their health care provider. If a test comes back positive, patients must self-isolate for at least seven days from when their symptoms started, or three days from the last fever, whichever is longer.
For the latest COVID-19 updates, visit the County’s COVID-19 website and follow Montgomery County on Facebook @MontgomeryCountyInfo and Twitter @MontgomeryCoMD.
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