County Partners with Maryland Department of Health to Provide COVID-19 Testing at White Oak Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program Site

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, April 7, 2020

   Montgomery County health officials partnered today with the Maryland Department of Health (MDH), the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), Maryland State Police (MSP) and the Maryland National Guard to offer drive-through COVID-19 testing. More than 30 Maryland residents, many from the county, who are symptomatic and at high risk for complications from the disease, were tested at the Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program (VEIP) site in White Oak. If test kits are available, testing will continue on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

            “I want to thank the Governor and his staff for working with our staff to open this drive-through testing site.  While our test supply continues to be very limited, it is important to have this process up and running,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “Please remember – this is by appointment only – your primary health care provider is your first contact point.” 

            “We are pleased to join jurisdictions across Maryland in partnering with the State on this important service,” said County Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles. “We urge residents to work with a medical provider to schedule an appointment for the coming test days.”

            Staff from the County’s Department of Health and Human Services, including school nurses and dentists, participated in the testing. MDOT, MSP, Montgomery County Police and the National Guard provided logistical support.            

            To qualify for testing at the White Oak VEIP site, individuals must:

• Meet testing criteria as determined by a licensed health care provider. The provider will complete an online order for testing through Maryland’s Chesapeake Regional Information System.
• Once an order is placed, an individual will be given instructions on how to make an appointment online.
• Appointments will be confirmed, and an ID number will be provided.
• Those arriving at the testing site will be asked to confirm their appointment number and provide a photo ID.

            At the testing site, individuals remained in their vehicles with the windows rolled up until it was time to receive their test. Testing requires a clinician to insert a single long cotton swab into the back of a person’s nostril for several seconds. Most people experience minor discomfort, at the most.  

            All tested individuals will receive information at the test site with further instructions and should continue to self-isolate at home while waiting for results. Test results will be available in approximately three to four days. If symptoms worsen, patients should immediately call their health care provider.  If a test comes back positive, patients must self-isolate for at least seven days from when their symptoms started, or three days from the last fever, whichever is longer.

            For the latest COVID-19 updates, visit the County’s COVID-19 website and follow Montgomery County on Facebook @MontgomeryCountyInfo and Twitter @MontgomeryCoMD.

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Release ID: 20-178
Media Contact: Julie Parker 240-777-6507