Covid-19 Testing is Now Free and Accessible in the Nations Capital.

As new reports show shortages of PPE and a surplus of hospitalizations in new hotspots as Covid-19 resurges nationally, in the District of Columbia there is some good news.

All of their testing sites are up and active.

Mayor Murial Bowser tweeted "Yes. Free Coronavirus (COVID-19) Testing is available today. You have from 10 am-4pm at a location near you."

This was sent after Bowser previously pinned a tweet featuring a graphic listing testing site locations and times. It emphasized that no appointments are needed at these walk-up and drive-thru sites along with giving a 'Save Time in Line' pre-registration link option.

Most insurance providers cover the cost of the Covid-19 diagnostic test, so the district testing facilities do ask for your health insurance card to charge the appropriate party. If you do not have health insurance the testing is still free. At the site officials may ask for multiple forms of identification before administering the test, but there is still no cost.

There are currently over 10,000 positive cases with over 90,000 residents tested. Over 100,ooo people have been tested in the nations capital since they also provide test to all first responders and healthcare workers, only requiring their work credentials.

Over 500 individuals have lost their lives in the district since the beginning of this pandemic with around 4 people passing every day within the last month, according to recently released Coronavirus Data .

I personally went to get tested in order to test out the process, since finding someone to follow and film was both un-safe and a hard sell. I waited for 48 minutes, with three cars ahead of me before I arrived at my nearest testing site and seven were behind me when I left.

Most testing sites are letting individuals self administer the test under the supervision of a health professional others are still having officials administer the test.

The results should come in less than a week in the form of an email. There is a small percentage that a test can result in a false positive but, regardless, anyone that test positive is asked to self isolate in order to prevent spreading it to others. A negative test also doesn't completely rule anyone out from being infected since it can remain on surfaces and still be spread through respiratory droplets by anyone you come in contact with directly after testing, according to CDC testing documents.

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