The county is now offering no-cost, in-home COVID-19 testing for eligible residents who live in area zip codes most affected by the coronavirus.
A response team of a health worker and a human services worker will provide temperature checks, monitor vital signs and give COVID-19 saliva tests to all household members who give consent, according to a press release.
In addition, a telemedicine assessment will be conducted.
If necessary, the team members will provide referrals to emergency or urgent medical care and human services, emergency food referrals, or a referral to temporary hotel shelter for anyone who is ill and can’t be isolated effectively at home.
The visits are available seven days a week at no cost, though insurance information will be collected, if available, to bill for the assessment and test.
The visits are conduced through a partnership with Ready Responders. Residents can be referred for this service by a community-based agency or refer themselves by calling the Testing Helpline at 240.777.1755 (open 8 a.m.–6 p.m. seven days a week).
Callers will be asked a series of questions to determine eligibility, including which of the 10 eligible zip codes the home is located in and whether a resident is homebound or faces significant barriers to accessing community COVID-19 testing.
Two of the 10 affected zip codes are the close-in Silver Spring areas, 20901 and 20910.
Earlier this week, Councilmembers Gabe Albornoz (D-At Large) and Nancy Navarro (D-District 4) introduced a $7.5 million special appropriation to establish Por Nuestra Salud y Bienestar (For Our Health and Wellbeing) to provide COVID-19 testing, health resources and public education targeted to the county’s Latino residents.
Those residents have been some of the hardest hit in the area, according to data from the county’s Department of Health and Human Services.
Residents who are not eligible for the home testing program can still make an appointment to visit one of the county’s testing centers.
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