BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — The Erie County Department of Health announced a change in its COVID-19 diagnostic testing criteria.
ECDOH will offer tests to county residents who are under quarantine as close contacts of confirmed positive COVID-19 cases or those who are symptomatic. The change will start with appointments scheduled on November 12.
The diagnostic tests provided through ECDOH are provided at no cost and no doctor referral is needed, although you do need an appointment. You can call (716) 858-2929 for an appointment.
“We expected that we would need to shift our testing resources when our county experienced an increase in cases, and that is happening right now,” said Commissioner of Health Dr. Gale Burstein. “Our daily positivity rates and volume of daily cases are increasing. This change in testing criteria is part of our aggressive approaches to reversing these troubling trends.”
The Erie County COVID-19 Information Line will be closed on November 11 due to the Veterans' Day holiday and will resume on November 12.
"Callers will be screened and appointments will be made based on the new criteria. Plans are moving forward to expand Information Line hours and line capacity, and new hours will be announced when finalized," ECDOH said in a release.
For more information you can visit the county's COVID-19 website here.
