VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — So many people were looking for a test Wednesday in Virginia Beach, that a clinic had to turn people away before it even officially opened.
The free COVID-19 testing event put on by the Virginia Beach Department of Public Health was scheduled from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. at Kingdom Cathedral on Stoneshore Road.
The event, which was announced Monday, was to be first-come, first-served. Organizers said they initially had 250 tests but were able to add more.
By 3 p.m., Bob Engle with the Virginia Beach Health Department said more than 350 people were in a line that wrapped around the church property and down the street.
“People started lining up for this clinic at 12 o’clock,” Engle said. “We’ve probably turned away 150 people that came after 3 o’clock.”
New daily case counts continue to climb in Virginia with the highly contagious COVID-19 omicron variant spreading throughout the community. The increase in infections has skyrocketed the demand for testing with long lines becoming common.
Engle echoes Dr. Laurie Forlano with the Virginia Department of Health, who told 10 On Your Side earlier this week that the supply of PCR tests is not causing the long wait times.
“Mako Lab has some staffing shortages right now and so they only sent out three testers today. If we have five, six testers. We could have easily done 500 or 600 tests today,” Engle said.
Those who aren’t able to obtain a test when feeling ill are asked to follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control: isolate for at least five days from when your symptoms began and continue to wear a mask everywhere you go for at least another five days.
There are some who do not need to be tested. According to VDH, you do not need to be tested if you’ve been exposed, have no symptoms and tested positive yourself in the last three months, or if you can isolate for the recommended time.
Engle said the clinic will be offered again next week at the same time.
Virginians who have not been fully vaccinated, or are eligible for booster doses, can visit vaccinate.virginia.gov or call 1-877-VAX-IN-VA (877) 829-4682 to find nearby vaccination clinics.
Those seeking to find or schedule a testing appointment can visit vase.vdh.virginia.gov/testingappointment.
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