COVID-19

COVID-19 Info

Northeastern CT COVID-19 Testing Sites Map

For additional testing sites and information, please click here to visit 211ct.org or here to visit knowingisbetter.org

 

Killingly

Danielson Pharmacy   

77 Westcott Road Danielson, CT 06239 (860) 774-0050 Open M-F 9am - 6pm Appointment Required                                                                                                                                               
Putnam CVS Pharmacy 57 Providence Pike Putnam, CT 06260 (860) 963-2548 Open M-F 9am - 8pm Sat. 9am - 5pm & Sun. 10am - 5pm Appointment Required
Windham Windham Hospital 112 Mansfield Ave Windham, CT 06226 (860) 456-9116 Open 24 hours Appointment Required
Norwich Greenville Drug Store 213 Central Avenue Norwich, CT 06360 (860) 889-9857 Open M - F 9am - 6pm Sat. 9am - 3pm Sun. CLOSED Appointment Required

Backus Hospital

326 Washington Street Norwich, CT 06360 (860) 889-8331 Open M - F 9am - 6pm Open 24 hours Appointment Required

For additional testing sites and information, please click here to visit 211ct.org or here to visit knowingisbetter.org.

To visit the ct.gov website for contact tracing, click here. ContaCT: Connecticut Contact Tracing Platform Contact tracing is the process of contacting all people who have tested positive for COVID-19 or have had contact with someone who tested positive. It is possible to be infected with COVID-19 and have no symptoms, so contact tracing is currently one of the best ways to identify and notify people who may be infected in order to slow the spread of COVID-19. Participating in contact tracing is a way to protect you, your family, and your community. Contact tracers from the local and state health department will be in touch with you if you test positive for COVID-19, and will also call people you were in close contact with – but will keep your information protected. You will see “CT COVID TRACE” or the number for your local health department on your caller ID. Connecticut’s contact tracing program is run by the Department of Public Health, and uses recommendations that are based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). ContaCT ContaCT is Connecticut’s statewide software system used for monitoring the health and wellbeing of people affected by COVID-19. ContaCT assists in facilitating timely and accurate contact tracing. Protecting Your Information   The only purpose for collecting this information is to provide you, and the people you may have had contact with, information and resources to keep you and your community safe. Contact tracers will never:
  • Identify persons as the source of information within a community.
  • Give names or contact information to employers, the police, or immigration services.
What you should do if you test positive for COVID-19 (Cases)  Those who test positive for COVID-19 are directed to self-isolate, which means that they should stay home, and take the following steps:
  • Monitor their symptoms. If they have an emergency warning sign such as trouble breathing, seek emergency medical care immediately.
  • Ideally, they should stay in a separate room from other household members and use a separate bathroom, if possible.
If you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 (Contacts)  If a contact has not yet been tested, they will be encouraged to get tested for COVID-19. Even if they do not have symptoms, it is important that they consider getting tested. People who do not have symptoms may still spread the infection to others. A contact who tests negative for COVID-19 should still stay home for the full 14 days after their last known exposure to the case. Please, answer the call  If you are contacted by a contact tracer, please answer the call, take their advice seriously, and let them know who you may have been exposed to. Participating in the contract tracing process is one of the most effective ways can continue to do your part and help us fight COVID-19. Daily check ins After the initial conversation, contact tracers will ask to do daily check ins to see how you are feeling. For those who choose to participate, surveys will be sent by email or text message daily to those who have tested positive for COVID-19 and those identified who were exposed and who may be at risk of developing COVID-19. Survey messages from ContaCT will be sent from SVC-Covid19@ct.gov; text messages will be sent from (855) 670-0299. If you decide not to participate by email or text, you should expect a daily phone call.
Testing is available in many locations throughout Connecticut. Anyone experiencing symptoms should contact their primary care provider. Anyone who does not have a primary care provider should call 2-1-1 or visit the CT Testing Locator to locate the nearest testing site. Tests are available free of charge.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on testing in Connecticut

Information Provide by Connecticut's Official State Website

1.  Who should get tested for COVID-19?    

 If you are experiencing any symptoms that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified for COVID-19, you need to get tested.
  • What are the symptoms of COVID-19? People with COVID-19 can have mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms can appear two to 14 days after being exposed to the virus. Symptoms can include: cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fever or chills, muscle or body aches, sore throat, headache, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, runny nose or stuffy nose, fatigue, recent loss of taste or smell. Children have similar symptoms to adults and generally have mild illness.
  • In certain situations, it is recommended that you to be tested if you do not have symptoms if you are a health care worker, first responder, congregate care facility resident or staff (includes nursing homes, assisted living facilities, managed residential communities, correctional institutions), homeless, or living in communities at high risk. Some of these situations include being exposed to someone with COVID-19 without adequate protection or detection of asymptomatic spread during an outbreak.
NOTE:     - There is no state requirement that asymptomatic individuals who have not been in contact with a known case of COVID be tested. However, some employers may be providing testing to their employees, or may request that you be tested. - Remember that anyone with symptoms of COVID infection should get tested. - If you are contacted by a public health professional or contact tracer and told that you have been in contact with a known case of COVID-19, you should be tested. The public health professional will help you identify a location for testing in your area or you can call 211 for the latest information on testing locations near you. - These recommendations may evolve as the science of this pandemic becomes more clear, as the situation in CT evolves, and as testing becomes more widely available.

2.  What type of test should I get for COVID-19?

  • There are three types of tests available for COVID-19: nucleic acid (PCR test) and antigen  (rapid) tests are used to diagnose a person with current infection with the SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and an antibody test that helps determine if someone was infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the past.
  • If you are having symptoms for COVID-19, or are not sick but have had unprotected prolonged close contact with someone with COVID-19, you should have a nucleic acid (PCR) diagnostic test.

3.  How do I get tested for COVID-19?

  • If you think you have COVID-19 and feel like you have symptoms, you should first call your primary care provider to talk about your symptoms. Many primary care providers are set up to test their patients on site.
  • Drive-up and walk-up testing is available at some acute care hospitals, urgent care centers, community health centers and certain pharmacy based testing sites. You can find a test by visiting ct.gov/coronavirus, typing your zip code into the box that says "Find a Testing Site Near You" and clicking "GO". 

4.  I don’t have a primary care provider. Does that mean I can’t get tested?

  • If you don’t have a primary care provider, you can still get tested for COVID-19. There are places like community health centers across the state that can administer a test and may be taking new patients for other medical care. The community health centers offer on-site health evaluations as well as on-site COVID-19 testing. You can find a test by visiting ct.gov/coronavirus, typing your zip code into the box that says "Find a Testing Site Near You" and clicking "GO".
  • You can also find a testing site that will offer you a test for free, regardless of whether or not you have insurance, and regardless of documentation status. Locate a testing site at ct.gov/prioritytesting.
5.  I’ve heard that there are walk-up COVID-19 testing sites. Is this true?
  • Yes. There are many walk-up testing sites available in Connecticut.
  • You can find a test by visiting ct.gov/coronavirus, typing your zip code into the box that says "Find a Testing Site Near You" and clicking "GO". The testing site listings will include availability of walk-up testing.
6.  What will I be charged for a COVID-19 test?
  • For those with symptoms of COVID-19, private insurance carriers and the state’s HUSKY Health Program will not charge out-of-pocket costs for COVID-19 testing.
  • The state Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance programs, known as HUSKY Health, are covering all costs for testing. Any individual enrolled in a HUSKY Health plan will not pay out of pocket costs. In addition, HUSKY Health is now covering COVID-19 testing for uninsured Connecticut residents who are U.S. citizens or have a qualifying immigration status, regardless of income; and covering COVID-19 testing for residents without a qualifying immigration status if they meet HUSKY income requirements and have COVID-19 symptoms.
  • If you do not have symptoms of COVID-19, a doctor's order for a test, or do not live in an area where your local public health authority has recommended everyone get tested - you may incur a charge, and should talk with your insurance company.
7.  Can I get tested for COVID-19 if I don’t have health insurance?
  • You can find a testing site that will offer you a test for free, regardless of whether or not you have insurance, and regardless of documentation status. Locate a testing site at ct.gov/prioritytesting.
8.  How can I get a COVID-19 test quickly?
  • If you need to get a COVID-19 test quickly, CVS Health is offering free rapid testing at Samuel V. Arroyo Recreation Center in Hartford. Please call Hartford 311 at 860-757-9311 to schedule an appointment and pre-register. The rapid testing site will not test people who do not have an appointment or who do not meet the testing criteria.
9.  How long will I have to wait to get the results of my COVID-19 test?
  • PCR tests done at other hospital, community health center, and pharmacy sites will come back in approximately 24-48 hours.
  • If you have symptoms, or believe you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, it is very important to stay at home and isolate yourself to avoid spreading your symptoms to others while you are waiting for test results.
10. What should I do while I am waiting for my test results?
  • If you have been in contact with someone with COVID-19, you should stay home and away from others for 14 days after your last contact with that person.
  • If you have a fever, cough or other symptoms of COVID-19, you should stay home and away from others (except to get medical care).
  • If you are not sick with symptoms of COVID-19 and you cannot stay home while you wait for your test results, you should wear a mask when out in public and avoid gatherings with people who are not in your immediate household, are over 65 years old, or have medical conditions that place them at increased risk for COVID-19.
Learn more about what you should do while you're waiting for your result, review 3 Key Steps to Take While Waiting for Your COVID-19 Test Result. 11.  What happens if I test positive?
  • If you test positive - stay home, wear a mask with in 6 feet of others in your home, and wash your hands frequently.
  • Someone from the Connecticut Department of Public Health or your local health department will call you to check on your health, and ask you for a list of people you have had close contact with while you were sick or just before you got sick.
  • A contact tracer will only contact you for health matters related to COVID-19 and not for any other reason - your information will remain confidential. 
  • Contact tracers are also able to connect you with resources you may need to self isolate like food, housing, childcare, and unemployment insurance.
  • You can leave your home if these two things have happened:
    • You must have had no fever for 72 hours (three days) without the use of fever reducing medications, and your respiratory symptoms (cough, shortness of breath) must be getting better; and
    • At least 10 days have passed since your symptoms first appeared.
  • If you had no symptoms but tested positive, you should stay home until 10 days after your positive test.
  • If any of your symptoms get worse, call your healthcare provider.

12.  What happens if I test negative?

  • If you start having any symptoms of COVID-19 after the test, call your healthcare provider and ask if you should be tested again. Wash your hands often and practice social distancing (six feet between you and other people).
  • Wear a cloth face covering when you leave your house.
  • If you get sick, stay home from work.
  • Clean “high-touch” surfaces” (doorknobs, railings, phones, counters, faucet handles) every day.
  • If you test negative for COVID-19, you most likely were not infected at the time of your test. It is also possible that you were tested very early in your infection and you could test positive later. It is also possible you could be exposed later and get sick. This means that even with a negative test, it is important for healthcare workers and others who work with vulnerable populations to stay home from work while experiencing any symptoms.

13.  Why isn’t the state testing everyone in Connecticut?

  • Testing is an important part of our pandemic response, but it is not the only part. Other behaviors – wearing a mask, hand washing, social distancing, and cleaning – are equally important tools.
  • Testing people who have COVID-19 symptoms is still critical.
  • For people without symptoms, we are focused on testing people in areas hit hardest by the virus. We are also offering testing to people working in close-contact environments. This will help us monitor the virus and identify places that need support from the health department.
NOTE: The best way to protect yourself and those you work with from infection is to follow all of the recommended measures for social distancing, hand washing, mask wearing and sanitation.  

Information Provided by The Mayo Clinic Website

How do COVID-19 antibody tests differ from diagnostic tests?

I've heard about antibody testing for COVID-19. What is antibody testing? Is it the same as testing to diagnose COVID-19?

Answer From William F. Marshall, III M.D.
With all the talk about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) testing in the news, it's not surprising that there's confusion about tests and how they differ. Antibody testing determines whether you had COVID-19 in the past and now have antibodies against the virus. A test to diagnose COVID-19 determines if you currently have the disease. Here's what you need to know about testing.

When is antibody testing done and why is it important?

Antibody testing, also known as serology testing, is usually done after full recovery from COVID-19. Eligibility may vary, depending on the availability of tests. A health care professional takes a blood sample, usually by a finger prick or by drawing blood from a vein in the arm. Then the sample is tested to determine whether you've developed antibodies against the virus. The immune system produces these antibodies — proteins that are critical for fighting and clearing out the virus. If test results show that you have antibodies, it indicates that you were likely infected with COVID-19 at some time in the past. It may also mean that you have some immunity. But there's a lack of evidence on whether having antibodies means you're protected against reinfection with COVID-19. The level of immunity and how long immunity lasts are not yet known. Ongoing studies will eventually reveal more data on this. The timing and type of antibody test affects accuracy. If you have testing too early in the course of infection, when the immune response is still building up in your body, the test may not detect antibodies. So antibody testing is not recommended until at least 14 days after the onset of symptoms. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized and verified certain antibody tests, but tests with questionable accuracy are still on the market. Another benefit of accurate antibody testing is that people who've recovered from COVID-19 may be eligible to donate plasma, a part of their blood. This plasma could be used to treat others with severe disease and boost the ability to fight the virus. Doctors call this convalescent plasma. In the U.S., the COVID-19 expanded access program is recruiting participants for this promising treatment study, already used in some severe cases on an experimental basis.

What tests are used to diagnose COVID-19?

The FDA approved these types of tests for diagnosing a COVID-19 infection:
  • PCR test. This COVID-19 test detects genetic material of the virus using a lab technique called polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Also called a molecular test, a health care worker collects fluid from a nasal or throat swab or from saliva. Results may be available in minutes if analyzed onsite or a few days — or longer in locations with test processing delays — if sent to an outside lab. PCR tests are very accurate when properly performed by a health care professional, but the rapid test can miss some cases.
  • Antigen test. This COVID-19 test detects certain proteins in the virus. Using a nasal or throat swab to get a fluid sample, antigen tests can produce results in minutes. Because these tests are faster and less expensive than PCR tests, antigen tests may be more practical to use for large numbers of people. A positive antigen test result is considered very accurate, but there's an increased chance of false-negative results — meaning it's possible to be infected with the virus but have a negative result. Depending on the situation, the doctor may recommend a PCR test to confirm a negative antigen test result.
The FDA authorized certain diagnostic at-home test kits that require doctor approval and lab analysis. While the FDA hopes to authorize tests that can be done entirely at home or elsewhere, the agency warns consumers against buying unauthorized COVID-19 home tests because of concerns about accuracy.

What do I do if I'm interested in a COVID-19 diagnostic test or an antibody test?

Contact your doctor or other health care professional to discuss your situation and whether he or she thinks you need a COVID-19diagnostic test or an antibody test. Before seeking a COVID-19test in person, contact your doctor to discuss your situation and describe any symptoms. Typically at this time, most doctors only suggest a test to diagnose COVID-19 if you have symptoms or you've had exposure to someone with COVID-19. To get antibody testing, you have to be fully recovered from COVID-19. But in some communities, people who never had symptoms of COVID-19 may be able to get tested. Some have positive results, meaning they likely were infected by the COVID-19 virus at some time. Access to either test depends on where you live, test availability and whether you're viewed as eligible. In the U.S., collaborative efforts to make more tests available are ongoing. The nationwide goal is to test more people as more tests become available.

How can diagnostic and antibody testing help reduce the spread of COVID-19?

With COVID-19 diagnostic testing, people who test positive and have symptoms can get care earlier. Contacts can be traced and self-isolation or quarantine started sooner to help stop the spread of the virus. But no COVID-19 test is 100% accurate. It's possible to test negative yet actually be infected (false-negative result). So it's vital to continue to follow COVID-19 guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, such as social distancing, until further notice. Results of antibody tests indicate how many people had COVID-19 and recovered, including those who didn't have symptoms. This aids in determining who might have immunity, though to what extent and for how long is not yet known.
Governor Lamont, State and Local Agencies Encourage Residents To Use State Resources To Find COVID-19 Testing Sites
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Coronavirus

COVID-19 Testing Locations
There are multiple locations for free, public COVID-19 testing in Northeastern Connecticut. Please check back frequently as information is subject to change and not exhaustive.
To request any updates or changes, please contact Jim Larkin – jim.larkin@neccog.org

Northeastern CT COVID-19 Testing Sites