Fairgrounds At Limit For Appointment-Free Coronavirus Testing

TIMONIUM, MD — The first appointment-free coronavirus testing site in Maryland is "at capacity," Baltimore County government officials reported Thursday morning. The news came a little more than an hour after the test site opened.

"Due to the overwhelming response, we are currently at capacity for administering COVID-19 tests at the Maryland State Fairgrounds," officials reported around 11:15 a.m. Thursday.

The site in Timonium opened at 10 a.m. and had 1,000 tests available to administer Thursday.

"The fact that we were at capacity so quickly speaks to the critical need out there in the community," Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski said.

Those who were unable to get tested can call the Baltimore County COVID-19 hotline at 410-887-3816.

The Maryland State Fairgrounds was the first state-run coronavirus testing site to offer free testing without an appointment or doctor's order and to those without symptoms.

Appointment-free testing will be available at the Glen Burnie and Hyattsville VEIP stations as of Friday, and another VEIP site allowing appointment-free testing in Clinton is expected to open next week.

See a list of testing sites in Maryland.

The scene this morning at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium on the first day of drive-thru, appointment-free #COVIDー19 testing. pic.twitter.com/1djMgfIHX8
— Kata D. Hall (@katadhall) May 21, 2020

This is breaking news and may be updated.

Today, I visited the Maryland State Fairgrounds, where we quickly met capacity as we delivered 1,000 appointment-free COVID-19 tests, showing high demand for testing.

This is an important step forward as we continue expanding testing and taking steps towards a gradual reopening. pic.twitter.com/bsdHSJoPNH
— County Executive Johnny Olszewski (@BaltCoExec) May 21, 2020

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