Fax Problem Closes Local Coronavirus Testing Site

A 1970s technology is causing a very 2020 problem at Arlington County’s drive-thru coronavirus testing site.

The collection site at 1429 N. Quincy Street is, as of publication time, temporarily closed. The reason, according to Arlington Public Health spokesman Ryan Hudson, is because “the site is having some technical issues with its fax line.”

The site closed shortly before 11 a.m. today. Police were called to the site to assist with traffic control, with a large number of vehicles reportedly in line at the time of the closure.

⚠️ The COVID-19 sample collection site at 1429 N Quincy Street is temporarily closed (11/19/20). We will post an update here when it re-opens, and thank you in advance for your patience.

— Ready Arlington (@ReadyArlington) November 19, 2020

Arlington’s seven-day moving average of PCR-based tests performed reached 632 per day today, a new local record, according to Virginia Dept. of Health data. Arlington’s test positivity rate currently stands at 6.9%, down slightly from 7.2% a few days ago.

The trailing seven-day total of new cases reported in the county is 386 as of Thursday morning, setting a new record for the fourth day in a row.

Those hoping to get a COVID-19 test while the drive-thru site is closed can either go to the county’s walk-up testing site at the Arlington Mill Community Center or go to one of several local private testing sites.

Update at 2:15 p.m. — The testing site has reopened.

⚠️ The COVID-19 sample collection site at 1429 N Quincy Street has re-opened. Thank you for your patience.

— Ready Arlington (@ReadyArlington) November 19, 2020