Where To Get COVID Tests, Find Vaccine In Howard County: Jan. 5

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — As of Tuesday, Howard County saw a 1,498 percent case increase in a 14-day period, according to data from The New York Times, with a total positive COVID-19 case count of 30,819. The county has been unable to update case data to its site during most of December because of technical issues.

The state has 776,230 confirmed cases and 11,755 deaths total, reports the Maryland Department of Health.

Get tested

The Howard County Health Department provides PCR testing for COVID-19 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. using the FDA-authorized Azova saliva test kit. Self-collection testing is administered on-site or take-home test kits are available for testing. Test results are available in two to four days. These tests can be used for routine employment testing, pre-travel testing, or school quarantine/isolation. These tests are free but appointments are required and can be made at https://howardcounty.azova.com/.

The health department will distribute enough test kits for 333 individuals (666 kits) Thursday starting at 10:30 a.m. This limited supply will be distributed on a first come, first served basis with two kits per person allowed. These free test kits are intended for people who may have been exposed to COVID-19, who are having symptoms of COVID-19 or who want to take extra steps to protect vulnerable family and friends they are visiting. They are not for routine employment testing, pre-travel testing, or school quarantine/isolation.

Rapid testing and PCR testing will be available to residents at no upfront cost through a partnership with First Call Urgent Care and Centennial Medical Group at these sites each week. These testing sites are open seven days a week from noon to 7 p.m.

Test kits also can be purchased from some retailers and pharmacies, but supplies are low, residents report.

Get vaccinated

You can register for vaccines at this site and a variety of sites by using the state vaccine locator at https://coronavirus.maryland.gov/pages/vaccine#locator.

As of Tuesday, 81 percent of Howard County residents of all ages have been fully vaccinated, reports The New York Times.

Below is a list of county-operated clinics open this week. To register, visit https://www.howardcountymd.gov...

Jan. 5

Howard County Health Department, 8930 Stanford Blvd., Columbia, MD 21045
3 to 5 p.m.
J & J (18+) Click here to register (clinic is located at the back of the building; appointment required)

Jan. 7

Howard County Health Department, 8930 Stanford Blvd., Columbia, MD 21045
3 to 5 p.m.
Pfizer (12+) (16+ for booster) Click here to register (clinic is located at the back of the building; appointment required)

Jan. 9

North American Division Seventh-day Adventist Headquarters, 9705 Patuxent Woods Dr., Columbia, MD 21046
Noon to 4 p.m.
Pfizer (5+) (16+ for booster) Click here to register (Vaccination by HCGH; appointment required)

Jan. 10

Tere's Latin Market, 8525 Baltimore National Pike #1, Ellicott City, MD 21043
9 a.m. to noon
Moderna (18+)Pfizer (12+) (16+ for booster) Click here to register (appointment required)

Howard County Health Department, 8930 Stanford Blvd., Columbia, MD 21045
4 to 6 p.m.
Moderna (18+) Click here to register (clinic is located at the back of the building; appointment required)

Jan. 12

Wilde Lake Interfaith Center, 10431 Twin Rivers Rd., Columbia, MD 21044
3:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Pfizer (5-15) Click here to register (Vaccination by Giant Pharmacy; appointment required)

Howard County Health Department, 8930 Stanford Blvd., Columbia, MD 21045
4 to 5 p.m.
J & J (18+) Click here to register (clinic is located at the back of the building; appointment required)

Howard County Health Department, 8930 Stanford Blvd., Columbia, MD 21045
5 to 7 p.m.
Pfizer (12+) (16+ for booster) Click here to register (clinic is located at the back of the building; appointment required)

The county health department has its own website created to monitor the coronavirus pandemic as it spreads in Howard County, broken down by new cases per day and other data. The CDC advises taking several measures to help stop the spread of the virus, including the following:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
• Cover coughs and sneezes.
• Avoid crowds and poorly ventilated spaces.
• Stay 6 feet away from others.
• Clean and disinfect.
• Monitor your health daily.