Pop-Up Coronavirus Testing Site In Bel Air Targets Asymptomatic

BEL AIR, MD — A pop-up testing site is coming to Patterson Mill Middle/High School Tuesday, April 27, according to Harford County Public Schools.

Harford County residents who do not have coronavirus symptoms can get tested for COVID-19, officials say.

All ages may get tested, though children under 18 need a parent or guardian's permission, according to authorities.

When people arrive, they will scan a QR code with their phones to register. Once they are tested, they will receive information about how to access results.

The pop-up COVID-19 testing site is slated to be outside but will move indoors if there is inclement weather, organizers say.

The site will be open from 3 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Patterson Mill Middle/High School, 85 Patterson Mill Road, in Bel Air. Those with questions may contact mdh.rapidpoctest@maryland.gov.

There have been 15,913 confirmed cases of the virus in Harford County since the pandemic began, according to the Maryland Department of Health, which is running the testing site.

In the school system, officials say the virus is not spreading but is coming from the community, since transmission of the virus is high in Harford County.

"Most of what we're seeing ... more cases than not are actually coming from family members, small gatherings and youth sports," Mary Nasuta, supervisor of health for Harford County Public Schools, reported earlier this month at a school board meeting. "They tend to be outside of the purview of the school, but we'll hear about it that the next morning or whenever the tests have come back."

Since March 1, there have been 345 students who tested positive for the virus and 50 staff who tested positive, according to Harford County Public Schools, which reported Friday that more than 880 students were in quarantine while almost 300 were in isolation.

"The CDC is still recommending 14 days of quarantine after exposure," Nasuta said, noting she had consulted the county's health officer, who told her: "There is simply too much COVID-19 in this county at this time to slack in our efforts to keep people safe, and so we are still staying with the 14 days of quarantine after exposure."

Nasuta spoke at the April 12 school board meeting, when the positivity rate in Harford County was 8.56 percent. Since then, it has dropped to 6.54 percent, according to the Maryland Department of Health, which reports the statewide positivity rate is 4.76 percent.

Positivity rates should be at or below 5 percent for two weeks for an area to relax restrictions, according to the World Health Organization.

The case rate in Harford County is 20.19 per 100,000 as of April 24, compared with 32.72 per 100,000 on April 12. It is 17.08 cases for 100,000 statewide.

When an area exceeds 10 new cases per 100,000, community spread has accelerated and is at dangerous levels, according to the Harvard Global Health Institute. If the case rate is greater than 25 per 100,000, officials say community spread is out of control and may require measures to curb the infection.