New COVID Testing Centers Opening In NoVA, Fredericksburg As Omicron Spreads

VIRGINIA — The Virginia Department of Health will be opening nine new COVID-19 testing centers across the state, including in Fairfax County, Prince William County and Fredericksburg, in response to the growing need for tests as the omicron variant spreads across the state and country.

The testing centers, which will offer PCR tests, will be near or on the same property as existing VDH community vaccination centers that have been operating since October, the office of Gov. Ralph Northam said Thursday. The other centers will be in Charlottesville, Chesterfield County, Newport News, Norfolk, Richmond and Roanoke.

The expanded testing availability across the state will be funded with an initial $5 million from the Virginia Department of Health, which is seeking Federal Emergency Management Agency funding to reimburse expenses and continue testing deployment.

“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,” Northam said in a statement Thursday.

As of Thursday, the 7-day percent positivity rate for COVID-19 tests was 33.6 percent in Virginia, up from the 27.9 percent reported on Monday. The VDH also reported 15,840 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, a bigger increase than the 10,728 new cases reported on Wednesday.

The Northam administration said the new testing centers are expected to administer more than 50,000 tests in January. Each of the nine sites will operate between four and six days a week and will be open from 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., depending on the location.

The first community testing center will open on Saturday at the Richmond International Raceway. The other eight community testing sites will open in the coming weeks, the administration said.

The testing centers will send COVID-19 test results by text or email message to people being tested, based on the information provided in the appointment system.

The VDH recommends the public get tested on day 5 after exposure, although testing on days 3 to 5 is also acceptable. For people who do not have symptoms or a known exposure, the department encourages them to postpone any non-essential travel or events that would prompt them to test beforehand.

Visit the VDH’s COVID-19 testing website for more information.

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