A South Mountain recreation site in West Orange and Essex County College (ECC) in Newark will be next week’s locations for the free COVID-19 testing from Essex County government. The county will also continue to operate its regular, drive-through test site in Weequahic Park. A county spokesman said this morning that people being tested by the county get their results back in three days on average.
The testing at the ECC campus in Newark will be on Tuesday, July 28, from 4 to 6 p.m. and will be administered in the parking lot at 303 University Avenue next to the athletic building on West Market Street.
The West Orange testing will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 30 at what has been used as an archery field across from McLoone’s Restaurant on Cherry Lane.
The test being given in West Orange and at the ECC is a molecular diagnostic test, which involves spitting into a test tube. It tests for an active viral infection at the time of testing and is considered the most accurate. It takes less than 15 minutes to do the test and you remain in your car the whole time.
You must make an appointment to be tested, which can be done online at www.EssexCOVID.org or by calling 973-877-8456. After completing a short questionnaire, you will get a confirmation number that you must bring with you to the test site. Arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment and you should not eat, drink, smoke or chew gum 30 minutes prior to arrival.
Essex County residents with or without symptoms are encouraged to get tested. Residents age 13 and older are welcome to get tested. Residents are encouraged to get retested if they have taken the swab or saliva tests 14 days ago or more and have received negative test results. Testing is provided free of charge; health insurance is not required.
The Weequahic Park testing site will continue to be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
