VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – COVID-19 tests are in high demand, and News 3 is finding that Hampton Roads residents are continuing to seek them out as the number of cases rises nationwide.
On Wednesday, January 5, the Virginia Beach Department of Public Health hosted a free COVID-19 testing event from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Kingdom Cathedral, located at 3820 Stoneshore Road.
PCR testing was free for all ages. Pre-registration was recommended for a shorter wait time; however, walk-ins were accepted.
Approximately 250 tests were available on a first-come, first-served basis. Rapid testing will was available at this event.
Masks were required, and children 17 and under needed to be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Looking at the data from the Virginia Department of Health, the number of new cases on January 5 is 10,728 this year versus 4,377 last year on this date.
However, the total number of people hospitalized in Virginia on January 4, 2022, was 10,822. That compares to 18,387 in the hospital with COVID-19 on January 4, 2021.
Dr. Jeff Forman is the chief medical officer for Bayview Physicians Group and also a practicing pulmonary & critical care medicine physician with Lakeview Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine in Suffolk. Dr. Forman says, in regards to the Omicron variant, “It is coming through our community like a fast-moving hurricane. It is extremely contagious.”
Dr. Forman added that our urgent care clinics and emergency rooms are being overwhelmed.
“If you don’t have a lot of co-existing, significant medical conditions, wait it out at home just like you would any upper respiratory tract infection,” Forman said.
