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Essex County Executive DiVincenzo Announces Expansion of Coronavirus Testing to Include Satellite Sites Throughout Essex County in Addition to Weequahic Park

Updated: May 19, 3:30 p.m.

Essex County, NJ – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. announced that Essex County is expanding its COVID-19 testing initiative to include satellite testing sites throughout the County in addition to continuing to operate its drive through testing center in Weequahic Park. The satellite sites will offer saliva tests and will begin on Thursday, May 21st; the Weequahic Park site will continue to offer nasal swab testing. The tests are by appointment only and are being offered to Essex County residents free of charge. To make an appointment, please visit www.EssexCovid.org or call 973-324-9950.

As of Monday, May 18th, Essex County has the highest number of COVID-19-related deaths in New Jersey with 1,550 and the third highest number of positive cases with 16,712. Bergen and Hudson Counties have more positive cases than Essex.

Satellite Testing will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. at the following locations:

  • Thursday, May 21st, Essex Golf Center, 600 Eagle Rock Avenue, Roseland. 200 appointments will be available.
  • Tuesday, May 26th, Essex County Public Works-Fleet Maintenance, 99 West Bradford Avenue, Cedar Grove. 200 appointments will be available.
  • Thursday, May 28th, Essex County Richard J. Codey Arena, 560 Northfield Avenue, West Orange. 250 appointments will be available.
  • Additional dates will be announced.

The Weequahic Park testing site will be held from 9 a.m. to 12 noon on Wednesdays, May 20th and 27th; and Fridays, May 22nd and 29th. (No testing will be done on Memorial Day, May 25th.) Additional dates will be added in June.

Testing is available to all Essex County residents whether they are showing symptoms of the virus or are asymptomatic. Residents are encouraged to get retested if they have taken the swab or saliva tests 14 days ago or more and have received negative test results.

To make an appointment, residents should visit www.EssexCOVID.org or call 973-324-9950. They will be required to complete a short questionnaire. When finished, they will be provided with an appointment time and a confirmation number. Residents should bring the confirmation number with them. They are asked to arrive 15 minutes before their scheduled appointment. Residents taking the COVID-19 saliva test should not eat, drink, smoke or chew gum 30 minutes prior to arrival.

Essex County opened its COVID-19 testing center in Weequahic Park on March 26th and has been conducting nasal swab testing on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. As of May 12th, 4,901 tests have been administered in Weequahic Park with 1,839 of those tests being positive.

Essex County Opens COVID-19 Testing Site in Weequahic Park in Newark

Updated: March 25, 9:30 a.m.

Essex County officials announced the opening of a drive-through testing site in Newark’s Weequahic Park for county residents who are symptomatic of COVID-19. The site will open on Thursday, March 26 and Saturday, March 28 when 100 tests per day will be administered; it will then be open next week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday when 150 tests per day will be administered each day. The testing site is for Essex County residents; appointments are mandatory and will be scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Residents must arrive by car. 

Anyone wishing to be tested musty meet specific testing criteria, which includes a fever of at least 99.6 degrees and respiratory symptoms of shortness of breath. Those who do not meet the criteria will not receive an appointment. If you are exhibiting severe symptoms, please contact your local health care provider or local health department for guidance.

Residents can visit www.essexCOVID.org, where they will be required to complete a short online screening process before an appointment is scheduled. Residents will be asked several health-related questions and detail any symptoms they have related to the coronavirus. Upon completion of the survey, they will be informed if they are eligible for the screening. If they are eligible, a confirmation number will be provided; residents must bring the confirmation number with them to their appointment.

Tests are being offered free of charge to Essex County residents. Having health insurance is not a requirement. Follow up contact will be made to assess the continuing health of the person who completed the screening.

The full press release on the testing site can be read here: Essex County Executive DiVincenzo, Freeholder President Richardson Announce Screening Site for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) to Open in Essex County Weequahic Park.