COVID-19 Testing Program Revived In Burlington County Amid Spike

BURLINGTON COUNTY, NJ — Burlington County is reviving its COVID-19 testing program as the number of cases continues to jump, propelled by the proliferation of the delta variant.

The Burlington County Health Department will operate a fixed clinic five days a week at the Burlington County Emergency Services Training Center, 53 Academy Drive in Westampton, county officials announced on Monday.

Testing resumed Monday, and will take place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Mondays, and from noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.

The testing is open to all Burlington County residents ages 5 years old and older, as well as those who work or attend school in Burlington County.

No appointment or doctor’s prescription is needed, but insurance information will be collected from those who have it. No one will be turned away due to lack of insurance.

The test consists of a short nasal swab to collect samples for a PCR test. Those seeking a test should wear a mask and thoroughly blow or clean their nose prior to testing. Results are expected within 24 to 48 hours.

Burlington County was one of the first counties in New Jersey to launch a COVID-19 testing program in March 2020 when testing options were very limited. It continued to offer testing both at clinics and through a home testing program.

Testing was paused over the summer due to diminished demand and the wide availability of over-the-counter home test kits and other testing programs at pharmacies, urgent care centers and other health care facilities. Read more here: Coronvairus Testing Program Suspended In Burlington County

Burlington County Health Director Dr. Herb Conaway recommended bringing back the testing program at a time when thousands of students are returning to school for in-person learning in classrooms. Many workers are also returning to offices after working virtually from home for most of 2020 and 2021.

The highly contagious delta variant has also caused a surge of infections across the nation and created an increased risk in New Jersey. More than 3,400 Burlington County residents have tested positive for the virus since August 1 or about 78 new cases a day, according to officials.

As of Monday, there have been 49,907 coronavirus cases and 908 coronavirus-related deaths in Burlington County since the start of the pandemic.

“Testing has always been an important tool in our fight against COVID-19 because it helps us identify and isolate those who have become exposed or infected to prevent further spread,” Conaway said. “There are lots of testing options available, but with Delta being so contagious and schools starting and workers returning to offices, we decided it would be prudent to bring back a County testing clinic to ensure easy access. If someone develops symptoms after traveling or has spent time in a crowded space with lots of people, I encourage that person to get tested, regardless of vaccine status.”

The Burlington County Health Department continues to make COVID-19 vaccine available to anyone who is unvaccinated, as well as third doses for those who have received the first two shots, but are moderately to severely immunocompromised. Read more here: COVID-19 Booster Shot Or Third Dose? Here's The Difference

The county vaccine clinics run on the following schedule:

• Mondays from 2-6 p.m. at the Burlington County Emergency Services Training Center, 53 Academy Dr., Westampton (drive-thru clinic).
• Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Palmyra Community Center, 30 West Broad, Palmyra.
• Wednesdays from noon to 4 p.m. at the Weimann Building, 400 Delanco Road, Edgewater Park.
• Thursdays from 3-7 p.m. at the Bordentown Township Senior Center, 3 Municipal Dr., Bordentown.

Vaccines are also available at pop-up clinics, which are held every Tuesday from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Virtua Mobile Grocery Store, 181 Norcross Lane in Pemberton, and Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Virtua Mobile Farmers Market, 795 Woodlane Road in Westampton.

The Deborah Heart and Lung Center runs a walk-in vaccine clinic on Wednesdays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Deborah Medical Office Building, 6 Earline Avenue in Browns Mills.

“Vaccines are proven to be safe and effective protection against COVID-19, including the Delta variant,” Conaway said. “If you haven’t gotten your first or second dose of vaccine, we encourage you to do so as soon as possible.”