More than 500 Tested in Community COVID-19 Event

By Garrett County Joint Information Center Team

The Garrett County Health Department, in cooperation with state and local partners, tested 527 participants at a community COVID-19 testing event held on Friday, July 17, in Oakland.

As the event opened up for testing at 7 a.m., cars were lined up in four rows in the lower parking lot beside the health department, waiting to be released to move up to the next lot where teams were set up to do the actual testing. More cars were lined up as far as you could see on Frazee Estates Drive, waiting to be given the green light to move down into their designated row in the lower lot.

“The testing was quick and easy!” said Kerrie Margroff from Accident. “Thank you to all the employees of the Garrett County Health Department for all that you do for our community each and every day. You are all the best of the best!”

Of the 527 persons who participated in testing, 443, or 84% were from Garrett County. Marylanders from outside of Garrett County and West Virginia residents each made up a total of 25 participants. A few of those tested were from Virginia and Pennsylvania, and the rest were from across the U.S. All tests are currently pending.

“It was quick and painless,” said Kevin Bass, also from Accident, who came later in the morning when the line was not so long. “I’ve only been here for 5 minutes.” 

Any future community COVID-19 testing dates will be announced on the health department’s Facebook page and website, garretthealth.org. Anyone going to the Garrett Regional Medical Center for a COVID-19 test must have a physician’s orders and must go through the lab. Please do not go to the emergency room for testing unless you are sick enough to need emergency care.

For more information, call 301 334-7770 or 301 895-3111.