COVID Testing Megasite Now Open On Brookdale College Campus

Carly Baldwin
Updated ·3 min read

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Anybody living in New Jersey knows the frenzied rush to find coronavirus testing kits in the months of December and January.

Between schools mandating negative COVID tests for students and teachers and many employers requiring it too, particularly in healthcare settings and nursing homes, America experienced a severe nationwide shortage of at-home COVID-19 tests.

Monmouth County aims to fix that, as on Monday the county opened a mass COVID-19 testing site at Brookdale Community College’s Robert J. Collins Arena.

The state of New Jersey already runs a testing megasite in East Orange, which it opened in late December. However, that is a drive of more than hour or more for those in Central New Jersey.

This site on the Brookdale campus is the only one of its kind in Central New Jersey.

The testing site will be open at least three days per week through February with saliva PCR tests and rapid antigen tests available. Results will be provided for PCR tests in 24 to 48 hours.

You do not need an appointment; simply show up during the below hours and get a test, says Monmouth County. Also, all the tests, both rapid antigen and PCR, are free.

You can also get a vaccine or booster shot on the Brookdale campus. The vaccines and boosters are not at the same location. The vaccines are available on Tuesdays only from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Brookdale Children’s Learning Center (Parking Lots 4& 5).

The testing site will be open during the following hours in January:

  • Jan. 24 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

  • Jan. 27 from 8 a.m. to noon

  • Jan. 28 from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

  • Jan. 29 from 8 a.m. to noon

  • Jan. 31 from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The testing site’s February hours are as follows:

  • Mondays from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

  • Tuesdays from 8 a.m. to noon

  • Thursdays from 8 a.m. to noon

  • Friday, Feb. 11 from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

  • Saturday, Feb. 12 from 8 a.m. to noon

  • Friday, Feb. 18 from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The Brookdale test site is run by Vault Health and funded by the New Jersey Department of Health.

“Vault Health is honored to partner with the state of New Jersey to give residents access to efficient, reliable and accurate Covid tests,” explains Shawn Baxley, vice president of field operations for Vault Health. “These tests allow people to know their Covid status quickly, thus protecting their loved ones and the people around them.”

“We know that there has been an increase in demand for testing and the County has been working tirelessly to expand testing availability for our residents. We are grateful to our partners who have helped make this happen through joining together to open this large-scale testing site," said Monmouth County Commissioner Director Tom Arnone.

“Brookdale Community College is proud to partner with Monmouth County, Vault Health and the state to address the COVID-19 testing needs of our community,” said Dr. David Stout, President of Brookdale Community College. “As the county college of Monmouth County, we are committed to ensuring the health, well-being and success of our community.”

For news and information regarding COVID-19 vaccines and testing in Monmouth County, go to www.visitmonmouth.com.

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This article originally appeared on the Middletown Patch