RIDOH Recommends Weekly COVID Testing For Not Fully Vaccinated

RHODE ISLAND —With the more aggressive Delta variant of COVID-19 now spreading - and spreading faster and possibly causing more serious illness than previous variants - the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) now is recommending that residents who are not fully vaccinated get tested for COVID-19 every week.

On its website, the department of health also has listed circumstances in which fully vaccinated residents also should get tested, including:

• You have symptoms of COVID-19.
• You've been identified as a close contact of someone who tested positive for COVID-19.
• You've taken part in activities that put you at higher risk for COVID-19 because you can't physically distance as needed to avoid exposure. High activities include: travel, attending large social or mass gatherings or being in crowded or poorly-ventilated indoor settings.

The department of health also lists several ways to get tested in Rhode Island:

• Primary care offices: If you have symptoms of COVID-19, call your primary care provider or child's pediatrician and ask if they do point-of-care testing, or if they can schedule a test for you.
• Retail pharmacies: Make an appointment at a pharmacy near you. There is free COVID-19 testing for residents ages three and older is available at Walgreens Pharmacies across the state.
• State-run test sites: At these sites, you can schedule a free test for yourself or a dependent child. To schedule an appointment go to portal.ri.gov or call 401-222-8022.

The location of the state-run test sites are:

• Barrington Shopping Center, Barrington, 184 County Rd.
• Blackstone Valley Community Health Care, Central Falls, 964 Broad St.
• Cranston Parkade Storefront, Cranston, 322 Garfield Ave.
• Stop & Shop-Cumberland, 70 Mendon Rd.
• East Bay Health Care-Riverside, East Providence, 100 Bullocks Point
• East Providence Senior Center, East Providence, 610 Waterman Ave. (This site is open for K-12 and general-public scheduling).
• Middletown Knights of Columbus, Middletown, 7 Valley Rd.
• Block Island Fire and Rescue Barn, New Shoreham, 10 Beach Ave.
• East Bay Health Care-Newport, 6 John H. Chafee Blvd.
• Wickford Train Station Parking Garage, North Kingstown, 1011 Ten Rod Rd. (This site is open for K-12 and general-public scheduling.)
• K-12 Pine Street Test Site, Pawtucket, 354 Pine St.
• McCoy Stadium Parking Lot, Pawtucket, Ben Mondor Way
• Rhode Island Convention Center Ticket Booth, Providence, 1 Sabin St. (This site is open for K-12 and general-public scheduling).
• Stop & Shop-W. River Street, Providence, 333 W. River St.
• Smithfield VFW, Smithfield, 47 Farnum Pike
• South Road Elementary School, South Kingstown, 1157 South Rd.
• East Bay Health Care, Warren, 13 Railroad Ave.
• TF Green Airport, Warwick, 2000 Post Rd.(For staff and ticketed passengers only).
• Warwick Shopping Plaza, Warwick, 545 Greenwich Ave.
• Westerly Police Department, Westerly, 60 Airport Rd.
• Thundermist Health Center Parking Lot, Woonsocket, 450 Clinton St. (This site is open for K-12 and general-public scheduling).

• Mobile testing sites: You do not need an appointment at a mobile testing site.

The locations of the mobile testing sites are:

• Blackstone Valley Community Health Care, Central Falls, 964, Broad St.
• Casa de Oracion, Pawtucket, 38 Park St.
• Northern Plaza, Pawtucket, 301 Main St.
• Bethel AME Church, Providence, 30 Rochambeau Ave.
• Center for Southeast Asians, Providence, 270 Elwood Ave.
• Mt. Hope Neighborhood Association, Providence, 199 Camp St.
• Scalabrini Dukcevich Center, Providence, 300 Laurel Hill Ave.
• South Providence Library, Providence, 441 Prairie Ave.