Where And When You Should Be Tested For Coronavirus In Lexington

Lexington MA

01 July, 2020

6:18 PM

Description

Press release from the Town of Lexington: June 30, 2020 As of June 24, Lexington's COVID-19 testing rate (using PCR test) ranked second to last when compared with the 8 communities geographically adjacent to us. When you should be tested You should be tested if: You're exhibiting any of the symptoms related to COVID-19 (see below for a list) You think you've been exposed after attending a large group gathering You've been identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 Symptoms Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus and may include: Fever, chills or shaking chills Signs of a lower respiratory illness (e.g., cough, shortness of breath, lowered oxygen saturation) Fatigue, sore throat, headache, body aches/myalgia, or new loss of sense of taste or smell Other less common symptoms can include gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g. nausea, vomiting, diarrhea), rash, and inflammatory conditions such as "COVID toes". In elderly, chronically ill, or debilitated individuals such as residents of a long-term care facility, symptoms of COVID-19 may be subtle such as alterations in mental status or in blood glucose control The Lexington Office of Public Health recommends PCR (molecular) nasal swab testing. Where to get tested There are 8 testing sites within a 5 mile radius of Lexington. The State has an interactive map to help you find the site closest to you. Information continues to evolve quickly, so we encourage all those looking to be tested to contact the site prior to arrival. Many sites may also require pre-screening, a referral and/or an appointment. Cost for testing COVID-19 testing for symptomatic individuals and close contacts is usually covered by insurance and available at no cost to you. Additionally, many test sites in the Commonwealth test uninsured individuals for free. If you are uninsured, please call your local test site to confirm before making an appointment. This press release was produced by the Town of Lexington. The views expressed here are the author's own.