Where To Get Free COVID-19 Tests In Suffolk County

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released new guidelines stating that people don't necessarily need to get tested for the coronavirus after coming in contact with someone who has test positive, Suffolk officials are still stressing the importance of testing to help combat the COVID-19 pandemic,

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone announced on Thursday that there are nearly 100 locations across the county are offering COVID-19 diagnostic testing, antibody testing, and rapid testing.

While this goes against the new CDC guideline, Suffolk officials say that it is inconsistent with what has proven to be successful in slowing and containing the spread of COVID-19.

Bellone reiterated the importance of a robust testing and contact tracing program, and encouraged anyone who might have been exposed to the virus to go get tested.

"From day one, we have prioritized access to testing, especially in our hard hit communities, and as we continue on our path to recovery, Suffolk County now has more testing sites than ever before," he said. "In light of the puzzling CDC guidance released this week, I am proud to stand with Governor Cuomo and others in the medical community to encourage our residents to continue to get tested. If we want to avoid a second wave and keep our infection rate below one percent, testing must be a top priority."

To date, more than 635,000 individuals have been tested for COVID-19 in Suffolk County, with more than 7,000 individuals tested on Wednesday alone. While Suffolk County was once the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak, for the eighth day in a row, the County has experienced a positive rate of under one percent. In addition,, earlier this week Suffolk County saw a percent positive rate of 0.4, the lowest percent positive experienced to date.

"A robust testing program allows us to identify as many positive cases as possible, isolate those individuals and quarantine their close contacts, therefore slowing and containing the spread of COVID-19," Commissioner of Health Services Dr. Gregson Pigott said. "In order to protect public health and help prevent a second wave in the fall, we will continue to recommend everyone who is exposed to the virus gets tested."

There are also 20 sites in Suffolk County where residents can get tested for free including:

• CVS Pharmacy, 107 South Country Road, Bellport
• CVS Pharmacy, Candlewood Road and 5th Avenue, Brentwood
• CVS Pharmacy, 311 Main Street, Center Moriches
• CVS Pharmacy, 2315 Middle Country Road, Centereach
• CVS Pharmacy, 1710 Route 112, Coram
• CVS Pharmacy, 520 Larkfield Road, East Northport
• CVS Pharmacy, 2000 Jericho Turnpike, East Northport
• CVS Pharmacy, 111 Depot Road, Huntington Station
• CVS Pharmacy, 831 Connetquot Avenue, Islip Terrace
• CVS Pharmacy, 470 West Main Street, Patchogue
• CVS Pharmacy, 729 Portion Road, Ronkonkoma
• CVS Pharmacy, 29 Havenwood Drive, Shirley
• CVS Pharmacy, 977 Jericho Turnpike, Smithtown
• CVS Pharmacy, 111 Terry Road, Smithtown
• CVS Pharmacy, 6221 Route 25A, Wading River
• CVS Pharmacy, 105 Montauk Highway, West Sayville
• CVS Pharmacy, 496 County Road 111 Building C, Manorville
• CVS Pharmacy, 450 Main Street, Farmingdale
• Rite Aid, 803 Montauk Hwy Unit D, Shirley
• Rite Aid, 229 Independence Plaza, Selden
• Walgreens, 1580 Route 112, Medford
• Stony Brook Drive Through Testing Site, 100 Nicolls Rd, Stony Brook

Additionally, any resident looking for a testing site near them can visit the New York State Department of Health’s Website here for a comprehensive list of available locations. Residents with any questions are encouraged to call Suffolk 311.