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New COVID Testing Lab expected to improve turnaround time for results

December 15th, 2021 by WCBC Radio

As of Wednesday, the Allegany County Health Department is using a new testing lab to process COVID-19 samples collected at the Allegany County Fairgrounds drive-thru clinic.  CIAN Diagnostics of Frederick, Maryland will now provide COVID-19 lab services for the fairgrounds testing site.  It is anticipated that the change in labs will result in faster delivery of lab specimens and quicker turnaround time for test results.  Testing days and hours of operation at the Allegany County Fairgrounds remain the same:  Mondays 2PM-7PM, Wednesdays and Fridays – 8AM – 2PM. 

 

Due to ongoing network issues at the Maryland Department of Health, which hosts the Allegany County Health Department website, the ACHD is directing the public to its Facebook page (Facebook.com/AlleganyHlthMD) for updates on COVID vaccination clinics.

 

Appointments are available for upcoming Moderna booster clinics at the Allegany County Fairgrounds.  Links to register for those appointments are listed below and can also be found in a post pinned at the top of the health department Facebook page. For assistance registering for an appointment, county residents can call the COVID-19 call center at 240-650-3999.

 

The Allegany County Health Department continues to offer the following COVID-19 vaccinations on a walk-in basis every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Allegany County Fairgrounds at 11400 Moss Avenue, Cumberland, MD: 

  • First and second doses of Moderna vaccine (age 18 and older)
  • First and second doses of Pfizer vaccine (age 12 and older)
  • Booster doses of Pfizer vaccine (age 16 and older)

 

COVID-19 vaccines and boosters are also widely available in the community at local pharmacies, urgent care clinics, and some primary care providers.  Currently, 48.6% of Allegany County residents are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, compared to 69.5% of all Marylanders.