[Archived] City of Alexandria and Alexandria Health Department Partner with Curative to Provide Free COVID-19 Testing Kiosks

For Immediate Release January 5, 2020

As part of efforts to expand access to COVID-19 testing options, the City of Alexandria and the Alexandria Health Department (AHD) are launching free kiosk-based testing sites on January 7, in partnership with the private testing company Curative. 

The City and AHD have helped provide about 4,000 COVID-19 tests at various community testing events since July. The new approach will replace six hours per week of ad hoc community testing events with about 150 hours per week of kiosk availability, significantly increasing access to free testing with consistent kiosk locations and schedules. A key component of the strategy to stopping the spread of COVID-19 is identifying those who are positive so they can isolate from others during the infectious period. The City is providing the locations for the kiosks, which will be operated by Curative.

Curative operates more than 8,000 testing sites across the nation, which offer a testing swab that is self-administered under the supervision of a Curative worker in a kiosk. The swab is then placed inside a biohazard bag and returned to the Curative worker. Nasal swabs from the Alexandria kiosks will be delivered to a lab based in Washington, D.C., each night, and test results will be sent to patients by email or text message within 48 to 72 hours. 

Tests do not require government identification and all tests are free, regardless of insurance or immigration status. Participants will be asked for insurance information if available so that  insurance providers can be billed, but no co-pay from participants will be required. Walk-up testing is available, although appointments are encouraged and may be made at Curative.com. Kiosk service is available in English and Spanish.

Beginning January 7, Curative testing kiosks will be open at the following locations and times:

• Leonard “Chick” Armstrong Recreation Center, 25 W. Reed Avenue
  Monday through Friday, 3 to 8 p.m.
  Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Ben Brenman Park, 4800 Brenman Park Drive
  Monday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Charles Houston Recreation Center, 901 Wythe Street
  Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. 
  Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Visit alexandriava.gov/Coronavirus for more information about COVID-19 testing options.

For inquiries from the news media only, contact Natlie Talis, Population Health Manager, at natalie.talis@vdh.virginia.gov or 703.746.4914. For all other inquiries, call the Alexandria COVID-19 Hotline at 703.746.4988, weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.