Upper Chesapeake Health To Open Free COVID-19 Testing Site

BEL AIR, MD — Upper Chesapeake Health will open a COVID-19 testing site starting Friday, Dec. 31. It will operate on New Year's Eve and will be open seven days a week, according to the Maryland Department of Health, which is partnering with the University of Maryland Medical System in the endeavor.

It is one of two sites the Maryland Department of Health is opening to address the rising demand for COVID-19 tests, as the number of cases and COVID-19 hospitalizations increase while testing is in short supply. On Thursday, for the second day in a row, the state reported more than 10,000 cases of COVID-19 in a single day.

“This morning, I held another call of our multi-agency COVID-19 task force, as we continue to take actions to address this surge,” Gov. Larry Hogan said in a statement Thursday. “While the federal government has fallen short in expanding testing, we are doing all we can at the state level to further scale up these operations. In addition to getting tested, we urge Marylanders to get boosted now for the strongest possible protection against the highly transmissible Omicron variant.”

Only walk-ups will be accepted at the Bel Air testing location at Upper Chesapeake; the site will not take any appointments.

The Upper Chesapeake Health site will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily at 500 Upper Chesapeake Drive, Bel Air, MD 21014.

“I would like to thank Gov. Hogan for this COVID-19 testing site to serve the citizens of Harford County and the northeastern region of the state," County Executive Barry Glassman said in a statement. "I also appreciate University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health for their work throughout the pandemic.”

The site in Bel Air and another in Annapolis will open Friday, Dec. 31.

Both will offer PCR lab tests only, meaning results will take 24 to 48 hours to obtain. Testing is free.

The other COVID-19 testing site will be in Anne Arundel County. That site will also be open daily from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Anne Arundel Medical Center's South Pavilion, 2001 Medical Pkwy, Annapolis, MD 21401. It will be operated in partnership with Luminis Health.

The Maryland National Guard and Vaccine Equity Task Force will help with staffing and logistics at both sites, officials said.

“These new sites further expand access for Marylanders to get tested, which will give them the information that they need to keep themselves and those around them safe," Maryland Health Secretary Dennis Schrader said in a statement.

“Next to getting vaccinated and a booster shot, getting tested is another important tool we have to stay protected from COVID-19 and Omicron and other variants," Schrader said.

To find a testing site, visit COVIDtest.maryland.gov.