Each week, the Blue Ridge Health District (BRHD) and our partners (UVA Health and Next Molecular) continue to provide hundreds of free COVID-19 tests at drive-thru events throughout the District. In recent weeks, BRHD has seen an exponential increase in the demand for COVID-19 testing. In order to meet the needs of our community, BRHD will continue to offer testing and has expanded resources beginning in January 2022.
For the last several months, BRHD has partnered with Next Molecular to offer free drive-thru COVID testing at the parking lot of the former JCPenney location at Fashion Square Mall. These test sites have occurred and will continue to be held on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 2:00-6:00pm.
To better serve the needs of the community, BRHD has partnered with Next Molecular to expand testing at the JCPenney location. Beginning January 2022, Next Molecular will begin offering free, drive-thru COVID testing on Tuesdays from 9:00am-1:00pm. This will be in addition to Next Molecular testing on Tuesdays and Thursdays and BRHD testing on Fridays at Fashion Square Mall. All tests offered by Next Molecular and BRHD are free and for everyone ages 6 months and older. Community members will not be asked for insurance or social security information. No ID required.
The image below shows where to find BRHD and Next Molecular test locations in the parking lot of the former JCPenney location at Fashion Square Mall.
We recommend individuals arrive for testing through the Route 29/Seminole Trail entrance into Fashion Square Mall. From there, turn left and then a quick right where the line for testing will cue in the JCPenney parking lot that faces Route 29. There will be signs directing traffic, as well as volunteers to assist with flow as available.
Continue reading the newsletter below or visit our website for a list of next week’s test sites.
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On Monday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that based on latest projections, they believe the highly transmissible Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is now the dominant variant in the United States. Today’s daily case count for Virginia was one of the highest we have seen yet with over 5,970 new COVID-19 cases on December 22nd compared to 2,991 cases on December 20th.
Health experts strongly urge people to get vaccinated if they are not already, and if they are, to get the booster shot for greater protection.
With Virginians expected to gather with family and friends over the holidays, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) reminds everyone to take steps to protect themselves, their friends and family, and the community from COVID-19 as the Omicron variant spreads.
“We may be through with COVID-19, but COVID-19 is not through with us,” said State Health Commissioner M. Norman Oliver, M.D., M.A. “Unlike a year ago, however, we have tools to protect ourselves. The vaccines we have now are expected to protect against severe illness, hospitalization, and death due to infection with the Omicron variant, especially among those who have received their booster dose. If you’re not vaccinated or have not gotten your booster dose, now is the time to do so.”
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Want to Host a Vaccine Clinic?
Complete our Vaccine Survey
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This fall, we saw great success with our COVID-19 vaccine efforts throughout BRHD communities. We hosted drive-through clinics, neighborhood-based clinics with our mobile health unit and at community centers, and clinics at our local health departments. Now we want YOU to help us plan our next vaccine clinics! If you represent a congregation, business, organization, or agency that wants to host an onsite vaccination clinic for first, second, third, and booster doses, please complete our online survey.
This survey will let us know important things like where you are located, how many people you expect, when you want to hold the event and more. Priority will be given to those neighborhoods with vaccination rates below 60% for any age group. We will get back to you within three business days after reviewing the application.
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BRHD Releases Fiscal Year 21 Annual Report |
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Fiscal Year 2021 (July 2020 - June 2021) was quite a year of transition for the Blue Ridge Health District. From rebranding the District to taking on a global pandemic, it is a year that our community will never forget and a time when our staff flourished as leaders of health and safety during a global pandemic. We are thankful for their dedication and the many invaluable partnerships with leaders, organizations, and community members throughout the District and Commonwealth.
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Team Spotlight: BRHD Containment Team |
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The past year and half has been difficult for all of us, but in the midst of chaos, there are moments of celebration and congratulations. One of the best examples of this is our amazing BRHD Containment Team’s work with contact tracing and case investigation. When there is a positive case, this team is responsible for working with those infected with and exposed to COVID-19 to prevent further spread of the infection. While maintaining enormous case loads, the team has successfully onboarded and trained new staff and was selected by VDH to pilot a new program to make containment more effective.
The team was tasked with learning and implementing a new program called VCAMS, which helps organize cases and contacts, record data, and analyze the spread of COVID-19 in our communities. Even with such a demanding schedule, the BRHD Containment Team did not lack. This week, the Local Health District Operations Report for the month of November showed the BRHD Containment Team not only had the best performance metrics in the Northwest Region, but also some of the best outcomes in the entire state!
Michelle Newman, Containment Operations Manager, summed up our sentiments best: “I want to take a minute and recognize how extremely proud I am of the entire containment team and thank them for all of the hard work they have always done (and I am sure will continue to do) for our District and Community. I have never managed a team that I was more proud of than this one. Thank you to all of the wonderful people that make up our Containment Team!”
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Next Week's COVID Testing |
Due to the holiday, testing resources for next week (December 27-30) will be impacted slightly. Please see below for the COVID testing options offered prior to the New Year:
Monday, December 27, 2021 – 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm (Hosted by UVA Health)
- Church of the Incarnation, 1465 Incarnation Dr., Charlottesville, Va.
- Drive-through and walk-up COVID-19 testing for people over the age of 6 months. No appointment needed.
Monday, December 27, 2021 – 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm
- Greene County Health Department, 50 Stanard Street, Stanardsville, Va.
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Register online here. Walk-ins are available.
Tuesday December 28, 2021 – 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm (Hosted by UVA Health)
- Mount Zion First African Baptist Church, 105 Lankford Ave. Charlottesville, Va.
- Drive-through and walk-up COVID-19 testing for people over the age of 6 months. No appointment needed.
Tuesday, December 28, 2021 – 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm
- Louisa County Health Department, 501 Industrial Drive, Louisa, Va.
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Register online here. Walk-ins available.
Wednesday, December 29, 2021 – 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm (Hosted by Next Molecular)
- Fashion Square Mall, JCPenney Parking Lot, 1600 Rio Road, Charlottesville, Va.
- To register call 434-972-6261 on 12/27 and 12/28. Walk-ins are available.
Thursday December 30, 2021 – 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm (Hosted by Next Molecular)
- Fashion Square Mall, JCPenney Parking Lot, 1600 Rio Road, Charlottesville, Va.
- To register call 434-972-6261 on 12/27 and 12/28. Walk-ins are available.
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Remember, vaccination is only one tool to end the pandemic.
We need to use them all in order to return to normal day-to-day activities.
Continue to wear face masks, maintain physical distance, wash hands frequently and properly, and limit indoor social gatherings.
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