By Barbara A. Preston | January 5, 2022
With local pharmacies sold-out of rapid COVID-19 at-home test kits, many residents have ordered test kits via the Internet, or traveled to nearby clinics or private test sites. Starting today, Montgomery residents may opt to drive to Montgomery High School to get a PCR COVID-19 test. The site is open through Friday, from 8 am to 3 pm.
The clinic may move to a different site next week, Montgomery officials said on Wednesday. Test results from the Montgomery High School clinic will be delivered to patients via a secure portal in 24 to 48 hours.
While case numbers are high in Montgomery Township, there are no new hospitalizations or deaths, according to Montgomery officials, who reported that one resident died from COVID last week.
Rocky Hill had six new cases of COVID in the last seven days, according to Somerset County statistics.
Designed to handle 1,000-plus tests per day, the clinic will run at the high school during the same hours Thursday and Friday.
Upon arrival, you will need to wait outdoors in line, so dress for cold weather or rain.
Central Jersey Urgent Care, based in the Montgomery Shopping Center on Route 206, is managing the Montgomery site. They recommend online registration here. The test is self- administered and takes about one minute. Someone will assist you through the process, which includes a shallow nose swab, for about 10 seconds in each nostril. You will then place the swab in a test tube, hand the sample back to the staff member, and be on your way. Results will be delivered via a secure portal in 24 to 48 hours.
You will need to upload a picture of your photo ID and 2022 health insurance card when you register. If you do not pre-register, bring the physical copies to the test location. Whether or not you have insurance, you will not be charged for your test.
The Montgomery Township Health Department will hold COVID-19 vaccination clinics for first, second, and booster doses on Friday at Princeton Elks Lodge and Saturday at the Otto Kaufman Community Center.
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Friday’s clinic is for anyone age 12 and older and will offer all three vaccines from 4 to 7 pm. Saturday’s clinic is for children 5- to 11-years-old and will offer the Pfizer pediatric vaccine from 10 am to Noon.
“It is incredibly important that we get our children vaccinated and our adults boosted,” said Montgomery Township Health Officer Devangi Patel. “This is how we avoid hospitalizations and deaths amid the surging Omicron variant.” Pre-registration through the COVID-19 NJ Vaccine Registration scheduling system is recommended but not required.
Types of tests
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This tests for the presence of the actual virus’s genetic material or its fragments as it breaks down. PCR is the most reliable and accurate test for detecting active infection. PCR tests typically take hours to perform, but some are faster.
Antigen test: This detects bits of proteins on the surface of the virus called antigens. Antigen tests typically take only 15 to 30 minutes. Rapid antigen tests are most accurate when used within a few days of the start of your symptoms, which is when the largest amount of virus is present in your body.
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