Camden County Coronavirus Test Sites To Be Open On New Year's Eve

CAMDEN COUNTY, NJ — Camden County residents will still be able to get tested for the coronavirus on New Year’s Eve, county officials announced on Monday.

The county runs three testing sites for the coronavirus on Thursdays. All the county’s testing sites will be closed this Thursday for Christmas Eve, but the county-run sites will be open normal hours next Thursday, on New Year’s Eve, according to officials.

Those sites include the drive-thru clinics at Camden County College in Cherry Hill and in Camden at MLK and Broadway (9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.); and the walk-up site at Dr. Charles Brimm Medical Arts High School (9 a.m. to 1 p.m.). The sites will be closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

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As of Monday, there have been 26,186 cases of the coronavirus and 703 confirmed deaths in Camden County since the beginning of the pandemic. Eleven new deaths and 890 new cases for the period of Dec. 19-21 were announced on Monday. Trace investigations are underway in all new cases.

“Testing is a critical tool in our fight against this disease, and we are continuing to ensure that these resources remain available to the greatest extent possible,” Camden County Director Louis Cappelli Jr. said. “If you believe that you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 or are showing symptoms, please do not delay and schedule an appointment to be tested or visit one of our walk-up sites in Camden City. Testing has never been easier, faster, or more accessible.”

The following information is currently available regarding these most recent deaths in Camden County:

• A Lindenwold man in his 50s;
• A Runnemede man in his 80s;
• A Gloucester Township man in his 70s;
• A Camden City woman in her 60s;
• A Voorhees woman in her 90s;
• A Pennsauken man in his 60s;
• A Cherry Hill woman older than 100;
• A Camden City man in his 60s;
• A Voorhees man in his 80s;
• A Pennsauken man in his 90s; and
• A Camden City woman in her 90s.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families, as we announce eleven additional deaths in Camden County caused by this insidious pandemic,” Cappelli said. “While the post-Thanksgiving surge in cases seems to be slowing, we are losing more lives than we have in months. We cannot afford another surge on top of this in the coming weeks. Please take all precautions this holiday season, including limiting gatherings to your immediate household only, in order to stop the spread and protect your loved ones.”

The Camden County Department of Health also announced that 1,876 residents and 959 staff members at the county's 56 long-term care facilities have tested positive for the coronavirus since the pandemic began. Since then, 368 residents and three staff members have died.

Freeholder Jeff Nash will be joined by Virtua Executive Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Reginald “Reggie” Blaber and Rep. Donald Norcross (D-1) to provide an update on the county's response to the coronavirus pandemic on Tuesday.

The address will be streamed live on Camden County’s Facebook page and at camdencounty.com/live at 10 a.m.

“There is a lot of conflicting information about the safety and efficacy of the first vaccines developed to fight this disease, so it is imperative that our residents get information they can trust,” Nash said. “While it will still be a few months until the vaccine is available to most Americans, it is important that we be transparent throughout this process. We invite anyone with questions to submit them in advance or live during the broadcast on Facebook.”

Blaber will provide an update on how Virtua is beginning vaccinations, and will be available to answer questions about the safety and efficacy of the vaccines currently approved by the FDA.