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Despite State Demand for Testing, Local Testing Experience Short Wait Times

December 31st, 2021 by WCBC Radio

Demand for COVID-19 tests remains very high throughout Maryland as people are spending hours waiting in line for a test- however Allegany County is not yet experiencing those kinds of issues. Locally, while the lines have gotten longer, wait times have not. The COVID-19 testing landscape has changed dramatically just since Monday. So much so that a clinic you may have used in the past may not be offering COVID-19 testing anymore. Many of the walk-up locations have switched to appointment only, and it may take a week — or longer — to find an appointment. A spokesperson for the Allegany County Health Department told WCBC News although demand is up and lines have gotten longer- so far the average wait times at the regular testing clinics at the fairgrounds are only about 15 minutes. Take home tests are also in demand. In Allegany County those kits are available at libraries as well as a number of pharmacies. Governor Larry Hogan said that while the state is working aggressively to make more tests available- he would like to see more involvement from the federal government…