County considers bolstering COVID testing amid holidays, winter and omicron variant
Barnstable County officials are considering boosting COVID-19 testing as the advent of cold weather, seasonal holidays and the new omicron variant drive up demand.
“It has been busy over the past couple of weeks, especially last week,” said Erika Woods, deputy director of health and environment for Barnstable County.
“I do expect it to be busy through the holidays,” she said Monday.
County officials are meeting today to discuss the schedule for free testing, which currently takes place Tuesday mornings at the Orleans Department of Public Works and Thursday afternoons at the Cape Cod Fairgrounds in East Falmouth, Woods said.
“We will be discussing extra days for the holidays,” she said. “This mostly will depend on staffing since it is mostly volunteers.”
Karryn Lewis, pharmacist owner of Whole Health Pharmacy, said 25 people received free PCR tests at her store in Hyannis on Monday.
The holidays are pushing people to get tested, she said. “Everybody’s scrambling to get a test, and there are not that many options.”
So far, there are still timely testing slots available in the program funded by the federal government, Lewis said. “We’re not filling up yet.”
Lewis said government officials have assured her there will be increased availability if demand outstrips what the pharmacy can currently offer, which is COVID-19 testing on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday mornings.
Chain pharmacies such as CVS and Walgreens had some PCR and rapid drive-thru testing slots available this week, according to their websites.
Several pharmacies that ran out of over-the-counter rapid take-home tests in the days leading up to Thanksgiving and over the weekend had replenished some of their stock by Monday.
Cape Cod Healthcare ramps up testing
Cape Cod Healthcare offers daily COVID-19 testing at Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis and Falmouth Hospital, Cape Cod Healthcare spokesman Patrick J. Kane said.
The out-of-pocket cost for people seeking PCR testing for purposes of traveling or monitoring their health is $125, Kane said.
Health insurance will be billed for the cost of testing for people who have been exposed to the coronavirus or have COVID-19 symptoms, he said. “Free testing is available for (the) uninsured.”
People can call 508-534-7103 to schedule an appointment, but it may take more than one call. When the Times called the number Monday, a recording said all circuits were busy and to call again later.
Kane said Cape Cod Healthcare already has ramped up its testing program.
“(We) currently test over 700 a day, which is 300 a day more than we did a year ago at this time,” Kane said.
A spokesperson for the state Executive Office of Health and Human Services said the state has a website listing more than 400 locations where people can receive or purchase a COVID-19 test.
In addition, home testing is available at no cost to Massachusetts adults who meet certain eligibility guidelines, such as living or working in a state financed, operated or licensed congregate setting — including offices and schools — or who are experiencing symptoms, have recently been in contact with someone with COVID-19, or who have otherwise been recommended for testing, the spokesperson said.
Hospitalizations for COVID-19 are on the rise, but are nowhere near where they were in spring 2020 or early winter 2021 before vaccination programs were in full swing.
“I thought after the vaccine, we’d be in a different spot,” Lewis said.
But with the highly transmissible variant delta still around and, now, the omicron variant making its debut in North America, autumn cases of COVID-19 are on the rise — although, health professionals say, those who are fully vaccinated tend to have less illness.
Woods said Barnstable County officials expect to change the testing day at the fairgrounds the week of Christmas to better accommodate people’s travel plans.
“Currently we are running 36-48 hours for (testing) results. No major delays as of this point.”
How to get a COVID-19 test
To schedule a free PCR COVID-19 test through Barnstable County, go to: barnstablecountyhealth.org
To schedule a free PCR COVID-19 test at Whole Health Pharmacy, go to doineedacovid19test.com.
To schedule a test through Cape Cod Healthcare, call 508-534-7103.
Information on requesting at-home test kits for eligible adults is available at the Pixel by LabCorp for Massachusetts webpage: https://www.pixel.labcorp.com/ma-testing
To find other testing sites, go to https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-test-search-results
This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Barnstable County considers ramping up COVID testing
