In light of the demand for COVID-19 testing options and a rise in cases, the Board of Commissioners will start providing Vault Medical Services saliva tests at the Camden County Health Hub, the Camden County Bellmawr Regional Health Center and the Cooper University Health Care parking garage site adjacent to the main hospital in Camden City. These PCR tests are quick and easy to use, and results are typically back to the patient within 12-24 hours. To ensure that residents have more opportunities to be safe and healthy entering the new year, the new options will be available after the Christmas holiday.
Starting on Tuesday, Dec. 28, all three locations will provide a testing option that will be given to a visiting patient to be used on site or can be taken home and dropped back off to the site. Drop boxes will be installed and the saliva test must be returned within 24 hours of usage.
“Testing is one of the most important tools we have next to the vaccine. It’s the only way we are going to keep our kids in schools, employees in the workplace and our community safe is by having a sustained testing infrastructure for residents,” Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli Jr. said. “The demand for tests has skyrocketed and grown by 33% just over the last month throughout the county. Now with these new options we can assist residents who are striking out trying to find testing.”
- The Health Hub will reopen after the Christmas Holiday on Monday, Dec. 27 and Tuesday, Dec. 28. Testing hours will run from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Beginning on Jan. 3, testing will be available at the Health Hub located at Camden County College’s Blackwood campus from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
- The Bellmawr Regional Health Center is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. It is located at 35 East Browning Road and you can call (856) 931-2700 for more information.
- From Dec. 27 through Jan. 2, Cooper University Hospital Garage (entrance from MLK Blvd near Broadway) is open from 9:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 8:00 a.m. 12 p.m. on Friday and Sunday.
- The Cherry Hill Specialty Care on Rt. 70 is open from 9:15 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday and from 8:00 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Sunday.
- Regular testing times resume on Jan. 3. After this date, testing will be available at Cooper University Hospital, which is located the intersection of Broadway and Stevens Street in Camden, from 9:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
- Cooper Specialty Care at Cherry Hill will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday
- You can schedule your COVID-19 test at Cooper by using our online scheduling tool at this link.
In addition to these new county testing options the state Department of Health is also offering a mail in option. They have partnered with the same test provider, Vault Medical Services, to distribute free, at home COVID-19 tests by mail to all residents who need them. The new program is in addition to traditional testing operated at designated testing sites.
You can order a test by going to learn.vaulthealth.com/nj. The kits are shipped through UPS with next-day delivery and once you receive it, you will hold a Zoom call with a Vault health care professional to guide you through the test and answer your questions. You then send the test back in pre-paid packaging through UPS’ next-day delivery and you must drop off the package at a UPS site or dropbox. Results should be back to you within 24 to 48 hours.
Vaccine hours:
The vaccine clinic will continue to operate from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday until Jan. 3. On that date the hours of operation for the vaccine clinic will shift to 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursdays.
“If you have not been vaccinated against COVID, you really shouldn’t be attending group gatherings,” Cappelli said. “We all want to things to return to normal and the best way to do that is to get vaccinated. The vaccines are safe, effective and readily available so please, get vaccinated. And if you haven’t received your booster yet, make sure to do so. You can make an appointment at the Camden County Health Hub by visiting www.CamdenCountyVaccine.com.”
