Free COVID Test Kits Available Thursday From The Howard County Health Department

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — The Howard County Health Department will distribute enough COVID test kits for 333 individuals, a total of 666 kits, on 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.

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/.

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.