December 27th, 2021 by WCBC Radio

The Maryland Department of Health (MDH), local jurisdictions, and their partners are operating COVID-19 testing sites and vaccination clinics throughout the state. This weekly advisory provides information about free community testing site locations and hours operated by local health departments and MDH throughout Maryland. It also provides information about local health departments’ vaccination opportunities.

 

Please note that due to rising cases, many community testing sites are expanding their hours or days for additional opportunities for free testing.  The Annapolis testing site at the corner of Calvert and Bladen Streets has changed its days and hours of operation through April 15, 2022. The Annapolis test site has expanded hours of operation to 5 days a week from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. Monday through Friday (closed Friday, Dec. 31) with additional Saturday testing in January.  The Jericho City Drive Vaccination and Testing Site in Prince George’s County will also be expanding hours of operation to six days a week beginning in January. In addition, all three state-run testing sites (including State Center Vaccination and Testing Site in Baltimore City) now offer free BinaxNOW at-home test kits to families without an appointment. Please note, appointments are now required for testing at the State Center site, visit umms.org/StateCenterTesting to schedule. Reminder: All Marylanders 5 and older are now eligible for vaccination, and many Marylanders are now also eligible for boosters. Find a vaccination site and make an appointment near you here. If you are not fully vaccinated, you are at risk of serious illness or even death from COVID-19, and should get a vaccination as soon as possible. 

 

Although vaccinations are highly effective against serious illness and hospitalization, even the fully vaccinated can catch and spread COVID-19. Testing remains essential to stopping the spread of COVID-19.

MDH encourages the following individuals to get COVID-19 tests:

·        People who have symptoms of COVID-19, even if you are fully vaccinated.

·        People planning to travel. If you are planning to travel internationally, you should be fully vaccinated. However, you may also need to present a negative COVID-19 test to enter certain locations, as well as to re-enter the United States. Be aware that COVID-19 is still prevalent in many parts of the world. Check the current COVID-19 situation in your destination.

·        People who:

o   Have had close contact with someone with confirmed COVID-19 

o   Have taken part in activities that put them at higher risk for COVID-19, such as attending large social or mass gatherings

o   Work in an occupation which requires COVID-19 testing

o   Are prioritized for expanded community screening for COVID-19

o   Have been asked or referred to get testing by a school, workplace, or healthcare provider

Please visit your local health department website for mobile, pop-up testing or free, at home tests. You can also find a local testing site from more than 320 listed at covidtest.maryland.gov.

MARYLAND’S STATE COVID-19 TESTING AND VACCINATION ACTIVITIES:

 

Allegany County Health Department

Testing:

·        Allegany County Fairgrounds (11400 Moss Ave., Cumberland) Testing is available Monday, Dec. 27, 2 – 7 p.m.; Wednesday, Dec. 29 and Friday, Dec. 31,  8 a.m. – 2 p.m.

The COVID testing site at the Allegany County Fairgrounds will be open for testing on December 24 and December 31 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. as usual.  However, while testing at the fairgrounds will continue Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, the health department itself is closed on those days.

 

Vaccination:

Scheduled vaccination clinics are posted on the Allegany County Health Department website and Facebook page. For more information, go to health.maryland.gov/allegany or follow the health department on Facebook at facebook.com/AlleganyHlthMD