Loudoun County is expanding its weekly COVID-19 testing events to twice a week on Tuesdays and Fridays and moving the start time one hour earlier to 9:00 a.m., beginning Tuesday, January 4, 2022. The additional testing events will give residents more options for free testing as the county continues to experience a high level of community transmission of COVID-19 and as the spread of the Omicron variant increases.
“Increasing access to testing is important as we see a surge in infection rates in our region,” said Loudoun County Health Director Dr. David Goodfriend. “Additionally, because it is possible for fully vaccinated people to become infected and unknowingly spread the virus, getting tested when you may have been exposed to COVID-19 or when you’re feeling sick is a critical step toward limiting the spread of the virus.”
Testing Location
Since the COVID-19 testing program began, the county has held the free, drive-thru testing events at rotating sites throughout the county. However, due to the increased demand for testing, the county is holding the first events in January at the largest of those facilities, Philip A. Bolen Memorial Park in Leesburg and will announce decisions on a week-to-week basis on testing event locations based on demand. The first testing events of January are scheduled for:
Please note that given increased demand, there may be a significant wait time in the drive-thru line. The site will close once testing capacity is reached. To be notified regarding changes in site hours and the schedule of testing events, opt in to receive text message updates in English (text LCCOVID19 to 888777) or Spanish (text LCCOVIDESP to 888777), or check the Loudoun County Government Facebook page or @LoudounCoGovt on Twitter.
The testing events are free and open to all. There are no age or residency requirements. No prescriptions or appointments are necessary. A person does not have to exhibit symptoms of COVID-19 to be tested. A PCR test (nasal swab) will be administered, which tests for the novel coronavirus. No antibody or rapid tests will be offered. No COVID-19 vaccine will be available at these events.
Registration Form
To help reduce wait times, people who plan to attend the testing event are strongly encouraged to complete a registration form prior to arriving at the testing site for each person who will be receiving a test. The registration form is required and asks for general demographics and contact information, including name, date of birth, address, phone number and current symptoms, if any. Questions about insurance may be ignored.
The fillable form may be downloaded, filled out and printed. Completed forms should be brought with you to the testing site. Forms will also be available at the testing site for individuals who do not have access to a printer or otherwise are unable to complete the forms in advance. The forms are also available at loudoun.gov/COVID19testing.
When to Get Tested
Public health officials encourage anyone, regardless of vaccination status, who thinks they may have been exposed to COVID-19 to get tested as well as anyone exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, such as fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue and a new loss of taste or smell. Learn more about COVID-19 testing on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website.
Other Testing Sites
In addition to the COVID-19 testing events hosted by Loudoun County, there are other testing locations and providers in Loudoun and the region. Visit the Virginia Department of Health’s COVID-19 testing webpage to find locations near you.
COVID-19 Vaccine
The Loudoun County Health Department encourages everyone age 5 and older who is not fully vaccinated to get a COVID-19 vaccination as soon as possible. In addition, anyone who is eligible is encouraged to get a booster dose. Vaccine is widely available from many providers in Loudoun, such as medical offices and pharmacies including, but not limited to, CVS, Giant Food, Harris Teeter, Safeway, Walgreens, Walmart and Wegmans. These locations have the benefit of being able to also provide flu vaccine at the same time, which is recommended by the Health Department. Visit vaccines.gov to find the vaccination site nearest to you.
To make an appointment at the county’s vaccination site located at the Dulles Town Center, visit loudoun.gov/covid19vaccine.
Protect Yourself and Others
In addition to vaccination, to help curb the increase in COVID-19 cases that Loudoun County has been experiencing and to help slow the spread of the Omicron variant or other new COVID-19 variants, the Health Department recommends everyone:
- Wear a mask in indoor public settings.
- Stay 6 feet away from people who do not live in your household.
- Cover your coughs and sneezes.
- Wash your hands frequently.
- Stay home when sick.
- Avoid contact with sick people.
- Know the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and remember to get tested if you’re symptomatic, or if potentially exposed to COVID-19, regardless of your vaccination status.
Learn more about protecting yourself and your family on the Virginia Department of Health website.
More Information
Anyone with questions about COVID-19, including the upcoming testing events, may call the Loudoun County Health Department’s information line Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., at 703-737-8300; or send an email anytime to the Health Department.
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