New Community Testing Site Planned As Cases Remain High In Prince William County

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VA — A new community testing site is coming to Prince William County in the coming weeks, the Virginia Department of Health announced. The new site will be located near the current community vaccination center in Woodbridge, near the Potomac Mills mall.

Across Prince William County, cases remain high, and many residents are hunting for COVID-19 tests. According to the VDH, Prince William County still has high levels of community transmission.

Last week, Prince William County saw its highest number of COVID-19 cases in a single week. On Saturday, Prince William County recorded 1,685 new COVID-19 cases, a single-day record for the county. Over the past seven days, the county has averaged 983 new COVID-19 cases each day.

The new Community Testing Center is one of nine new testing sites that the VDH plans to open in January. The VDH is using $5,000,000 in funds to open the sites, though officials are seeking funding from FEMA to reduce ongoing costs.

"Testing is a critical tool in our fight against COVID-19, and we must continue to everything we can do increase access," Governor Ralph Northam said in a statement Thursday. "As Virginians continue to grapple with a national shortage of rapid tests, expanding our PCR capabilities will ensure more Virginians have access to free, reliable testing and can better protect themselves and their families."

Officials expect the new testing centers to administer more than 50,000 tests in January. Each site will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on four, five, or six days each week, depending on the location.

Read more: New COVID-19 Testing Centers Coming To NoVA, Fredericksburg

More information about where to find a COVID-19 test near you is available through the VDH's website. They also provide information about when to seek out a test, and what to expect during the process.

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