Free Coronavirus Testing For Bedford Residents On January 9

Press release from the Town of Bedford:

January 5, 2021

*All appointment slots have been filled. Please stay tuned for future testing opportunities or go to https://www.mass.gov/info-details/stop-the-spread for state-sponsored sites and a map of all testing sites in Bedford and beyond.*

On Saturday, January 9, 2021, the Town of Bedford will be offering free COVID-19 PCR testing for residents. The testing clinic will take place at the rear of 12 Mudge Way, Town Center building (big yellow building), from 8:00 am - Noon. This testing program, run by the Bedford Fire Department, Pro EMS and the Broad Institute, will be free for all Bedford residents ages 4 and older. The testing program will run via a drive-through model. Residents are asked to remain in their vehicles when attending the testing clinic.

The testing is available for all residents, symptomatic or asymptomatic, and will use the "shallow nasal swab" sample collection method and analysis will be by PCR testing methodology. You do not need to be a close contact, have a note from your doctor, or any other condition to be tested...you just need to be a Bedford resident.

Residents are invited to use the link below to make an appointment for a COVID-19 test. Registration is first come, first served, and registration begins at 9:00 am on Wednesday, January 6.

Each person being tested will need an appointment. For each person you intend to have tested you will have to reenter the registration system via the link below and register them individually. If registering a child, please use your email, as parent/guardian, for correspondence. You will receive an email for each registrant and each email requires a reply. If there are not enough appointments in the time slot you choose (i.e. 10:15 am), enter the remaining registrants in the very next time slot (i.e. 10:30 am). If you have any questions regarding registration, please contact the Health Department at 781-275-6507.

Following initial registration via the link below, you will then receive 2 emails: 1) a confirmation of your appointment; and 2) an email with a password that directs you to complete the registration form. Please ensure you receive and complete the password protected registration for each person you registered for testing before proceeding to the testing event at your designated appointment time. If you are 65+ and do not have access to the internet, please contact the Council on Aging at 781-275-6825, starting at 9:00 am on Wednesday January 6th, to make an appointment for an available time slot.

Results are typically received in 24-48 hours and will reported to the Bedford Health Department. You will receive an automated response if your result is negative. For this reason, it is imperative you enter your email address correctly. You will receive communication, and health support information from the Health Department if your result is positive. You will also receive communication from the Health Department in the unlikely event that your sample was not able to analyzed due to lab or sample collection error. As such, it is important that you answer your phone. If you have questions about what to do after your test, please refer to the COVID-19 Testing FAQs found here: https://www.bedfordma.gov/bedford-board-of-health/files/covid-19-testing-faqs

Registration closes once capacity is reached or at noon on Friday, January 8th. Please use this link, which goes live at 9:00 am on Wednesday, January 6th, to register: https://intakeq.com/booking/arkth6

This press release was produced by the Town of Bedford. The views expressed here are the author’s own.