MIDDLESEX COUNTY – Middlesex
County has compiled a comprehensive directory of COVID-19 testing facilities
throughout its 25 municipalities to ensure that all residents can access free
or affordable tests. As the State of New Jersey reopens the economy, both
diagnostic (detecting current presence of the virus) and antibody testing
(detecting previous development of the virus), as well as contact tracing, will
be crucial to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. A full list of testing
facilities, contact details, and type of test offered are available on the County website.
“Although the State is relaxing its
orders and reopening the economy, we strongly encourage all our residents to
remain vigilant, even after a vaccine becomes available. As we’re in the summer
months, there is naturally a dramatic increase in social gatherings both at
home and in public areas including beaches and pools. It is even more imperative
now to socially distance, wear masks, and get tested. Mass testing, contact
tracing and quarantines will get us on the road back to normalcy within our
‘new reality’ sooner— and together, as a community, we can be successful,” said
Freeholder Director Ronald G. Rios
Contact tracing goes hand in hand
with testing and it is part of the process of supporting patients with
suspected or confirmed infection. When a person tests positive for
COVID-19 their data is added to the New Jersey Department of Health Communicable
Disease Reporting and Surveillance System (CDRSS). These reports are then
provided to the local health department where a contact tracer is assigned to
call the person for an interview to determine close contacts. A close
contact is anyone who was within six feet of you for more than 10 minutes at
least two days before your positive test if you didn't have any symptoms, or
two days before your first symptom appeared.
Contact tracers call individuals to
provide education, information, and support to understand their risk, what they
should do to separate themselves from others who are not exposed, how they
should monitor themselves for illness, and the possibility that they could
spread the infection to others even if they themselves do not feel ill.
If residents have concerns that the
person calling is not a real contact tracer, they can request the name and ID
of anyone who calls, hang up and call the Middlesex County Office of Health
Services at 732-745-3100. Select “option 2” to speak to a nurse, who will
verify if the person that called is a trained Middlesex County Contact Tracer.
By monitoring symptoms, getting
tested, and working with the Middlesex County Office of Health Services Contact
Tracing program you can help reduce the spread of illness within the
community. For more information about testing sites and contact tracing
please visit the County webpage on contact tracing.
“Despite the declining positive
COVID-19 cases, which is a good indication that our collective efforts are
working—we are not out of the woods yet. We must all continue to work together
to curtail the spread of the virus by being responsible and getting tested and
ensuring accurate information is shared to contact tracers. These extra steps
can help save lives in our County,” said Freeholder and Chair of Public
Safety & Health Committee, Shanti Narra.
Middlesex County will continue to
test asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals at two locations: A.C. Redshaw
Elementary School, 216 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick (walk-up) and 1
Ericsson Drive, Piscataway (drive-thru). As the schedule changes weekly,
please visit the County’s Public Safety & Health webpage for the latest details. To schedule
an appointment call 732-745-3100 or visit Middlesexcountynj.gov/COVID19testing. Testing is free for Middlesex
County residents.
Below is a full list of COVID-19 testing
locations: