Wheaton Coronavirus Drive-Thru Testing Site Now Open

WHEATON, MD – A new drive-thru testing site for the new coronavirus opened in Wheaton on Wednesday, providing more access to testing for residents of Montgomery County. Testing is available by appointment only.

The new site is located at the Wheaton Library and Community Recreation Center Signage at the testing site asks patients to remain in their vehicles with the windows closed until it is time for their appointment. Testing is available at the Wheaton site on Wednesdays only.

Another new testing site will be opening on Monday, April 27, in Germantown, according to Montgomery County Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles, who discussed testing in his weekly media briefing with County Executive Marc Elrich Wednesday afternoon.

"Increasing testing capacity and access to testing is one of our priorities because we recognize it is important not only to understand what the true impact of COVID-19 is on our communities, we also know that having increased access to testing will be very meaningful to guide how or when we open up society," Gayles said.

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For appointments at these sites, providers will order tests through Maryland's Chesapeake Regional Information System for patients. Gayles said they are working on establishing a hotline for those patients who do not have access to a health care providers where residents can call in, get screened, and, if they need a test, they can have an appointment scheduled.

Testing is also available on Tuesdays and Thursdays by appointment only at the Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program site in White Oak, as well as in Anne Arundel, Charles, Harford and Howard counties.

To qualify for COVID-19 testing, patients must meet criteria that is determined through the health care provider. Once an order is placed, the patient will be given instructions on how to make an appointment online. Appointments will then be confirmed and the patient will be given an ID number. Patients arriving at the testing site will be asked to confirm their appointment number and provide a photo ID.