Burlington County Expands Coronavirus Testing Program

BURLINGTON COUNTY, NJ — Burlington County will begin offering free testing for the coronavirus vaccine five days a week at rotating locations throughout the county beginning Monday, officials announced Thursday morning.

Currently, testing is only available three days a week at Rowan College of Burlington County in Mount Laurel. The new testing hours and locations are:

• Mondays from 9 AM to 1 PM at the Laurel House on the campus of the St. John Neumann Monastery, 562 Walton Avenue, Mount Laurel;
• Tuesdays from 1 PM to 7 PM at The Gibson House community center, 535 East Main Street, Evesham;
• Wednesdays from 9 AM to 1 PM at the Florence Municipal Garage, 875 Summer Street, Florence;
• Thursdays from 10 AM to 2 PM at the Christian Caring Center, 378 Lakehurst Road, Browns Mills;
• Fridays from 9 AM to 1 PM at The Gibson House community center, 535 East Main Street, Evesham.

“Vaccines have helped us turn the corner in our fight against the virus, but the pandemic is not over,” Burlington County Health Director Dr. Herb Conaway said. “New COVID-19 cases may be down and social-distancing rules are being relaxed, but we must continue to be on our guard and take steps to protect our family, friends and co-workers, and testing continues to be one of our most effective tools to fight the spread. It’s why our County is expanding its testing program. We want to make it even easier for those who suspect they may be sick or had contact with an infected person to get a test.”

The test sites are offered through a new partnership between Burlington County and NDS Wellness. They are open to all Burlington County residents ages 5 and up, as well as anyone who works in or attends school in the county. No appointments are needed, and a doctor’s prescription is not required.

The test involves a short nasal swab, so there are no restrictions on eating, drinking or smoking before the test. However, those visiting the test site must wear masks and are asked to blow or clean their noses thoroughly prior to testing. Test results are expected within 72 hours.

Burlington County also offers a saliva-based, home testing option. Those interested in this option can register online at www.homecovidtest.org to obtain a mail-order test kit and instructions on how to schedule a Zoom telehealth meeting with a health care worker to oversee sample collection.

The county is also working on a rapid-testing program for youth sports teams. Municipal recreation departments and sports programs interested in participating should email the health department at bchd@co.burlington.nj.us.

Even residents who are fully vaccinated should undergo testing if they have COVID-19 symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who is infected with the virus.

“It’s a fast, easy process and will help us identify any outbreaks before they become new surges,” Conaway said.

Burlington County was one of the first counties in the state to launch a coronavirus testing program, and has tested more than 40,000 people since, according to officials.

“From the very beginning of this pandemic, our county has made it our top priority to deliver the assistance our residents and businesses needed to get through this crisis. Making sure testing is available was a huge plus here, and our board remains committed to ensuring it continues to be accessible,” Burlington County Commissioner Deputy Director Dan O’Connell, liaison to the Health Department, said. “We also want to encourage our residents to take advantage of these different testing services, even if only to gain peace of mind. Your family, friends and community will be the better for it.”