Essex County is expanding its COVID-19 testing initiative to include satellite testing sites throughout the county while continuing to operate its drive-through testing center in Weequahic Park. The satellite sites will offer saliva tests and are being offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays; the Weequahic Park site will continue to offer nasal swab testing on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The tests are by appointment only and are being offered to Essex County residents free of charge. To make an appointment, please visit www.EssexCovid.org or call 973-324-9950.
“Unfortunately, Essex County leads the state in the number of deaths caused by the coronavirus,” County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. said in a prepared statement. “Our fight against this deadly disease is far from over and we must remain vigilant and aggressive to combat it. Testing is a critical tool that will tell us exactly how widespread the virus is and who has been infected. Whether you are exhibiting symptoms of the Coronavirus or not, we encourage residents to make an appointment and get tested.”
As of Saturday, May 30, Essex County has the highest number of COVID-19-related deaths in New Jersey with 1,654 and the third highest number of positive cases with 17,583. Bergen and Hudson counties have more positive cases than Essex.
Satellite testing will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. at the following locations:
- Tuesday June 2, Seabra Foods parking lot, 281-285 Ferry Street, Newark. 200 appointments will be available.
- Thursday June 4, Maplewood Community Pool, 187 Boyden Avenue, Maplewood. 200 appointments will be available.
- Tuesday June 9, Nutley Parks and Recreation Building, 44 Park Avenue, Nutley. 200 appointments will be available.
The Weequahic Park testing site will be held from 9 a.m. to 12 noon on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays during June.
Essex County residents with or without symptoms are encouraged to get tested. Residents age 13 and older are welcome to get tested. Residents are encouraged to get retested if they have taken the swab or saliva tests 14 days ago or more and have received negative test results. Testing is provided free of charge; health insurance is not required.
To make an appointment, residents should visit www.EssexCOVID.org or call 973-324-9950. They will be required to complete a short questionnaire. When finished, they will be provided with an appointment time and a confirmation number. Residents should bring the confirmation number with them. They are asked to arrive 15 minutes before their scheduled appointment. Residents taking the COVID-19 saliva test should not eat, drink, smoke or chew gum 30 minutes prior to arrival.
