The City of Jersey City will open three rapid testing locations due to long lab delays related to PCR testing that are hindering results.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“The city continues to expand access to testing with additional sites opening citywide specifically to offer more rapid test options in order to address delays that diagnostic labs are experiencing throughout the country,” city spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione said following an inquiry about lab delays from HCV.”
“In fact, this week alone we expect to transition three locations to rapid test spots for Jersey City residents.”
Plans are to utilize the Maureen Colliers Senior Center, 335 Bergen Ave., the Joseph Connors Senior Center, 28 Paterson St., and the Moose Lodge, 60 West Side Ave., as rapid testing sites.
Additionally, the senior centers will no longer offer PCR testing and more sites will be added as more supplies become available, Wallace-Scalcione said.
These locations will be online from at least January 6th through January 15th and will be open from 9 a.m. through 6 p.m., by appointment only. Appointments can be booked here starting at 1 p.m. today.
Appointments can also be made by calling the city’s hotline at 201-373-2316.
As COVID-19 cases surge throughout the country, largely due to the highly infectious Omicron variant, the demand for testing is at an all time high.
This has led both Hoboken and Bayonne to switch to testing by appointment only, asking residents to only sign up if they are symptomatic and/or if they had a known exposure.
In the Peninsula City, they are also ceasing PCR testing until further notice, transitioning to rapid testing only tomorrow.
Last month, President Joe Biden (D) announced plans to mail 500 million rapid test kits to people’s homes, though they still haven’t been sent out, recommending Americans to Google “COVID test near me” to find a free site.
The New Jersey Department of Health is also sending out free at-home saliva PCR tests to residents who place an order, though the demand has been far higher than the supply thus far.
