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ECDOH updates COVID-19 testing options

Submitted

Wed, Feb 16th 2022 01:00 pm

Erie County residents may request PCR or rapid (ID Now) COVID-19 testing

The Erie County Department of Health is reminding Erie County residents they can seek free coronavirus testing. ECDOH has updated its procedures to make rapid (ID Now) testing available to any resident on request. Previously, rapid testing was only available from ECDOH for individuals with COVID-19 symptoms or those with a known exposure.

“Between our public health lab and our rapid test equipment at our 608 William St. clinic and the Erie County Emergency Operations and Training Center on Broadway, our department has a robust capacity to provide free, accessible COVID-19 testing,” Commissioner of Health Dr. Gale Burstein said. “Anyone who calls or walks in for COVID-19 testing may choose between our two test options. The COVID-19 PCR test is the most sensitive and most specific, and we provide the results within one to three business days. Or, the rapid COVID-19 test offers results in 15 minutes.”

The rapid COVID-19 testing option is available for travelers who require a negative test prior to departure, or people arriving back to Erie County after travel, especially to areas with high levels of COVID-19 transmission. Individuals can also access this free COVID-19 testing through ECDOH prior to visiting a nursing home or other long-term care facility. People with COVID-19 symptoms may opt for the rapid test, or for the PCR, which also screens for three other common respiratory viruses, influenza A, influenza B and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus).

ECDOH encourages Erie County residents to call the Erie County COVID-19 information line at 716-858-2929 for an appointment, as this saves time at the testing site. However, walk-ins are welcome.

For more:

√ Erie County Department of Health COVID-19 info: www.erie.gov/covid19

√ ECDOH COVID-19 vaccine information and clinic schedule: www.erie.gov/vax

√ New York State Department of Health, COVID-19 boosters: http://ny.gov/boosters

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