Freiman, Verrelli & Reynolds-Jackson Measure to Require Facilities to Provide Residents a Timeline for Covid-19 Test Results; DOH to Update NJ Website with Testing Locations Clears Full Assembly

(TRENTON) – Addressing a widening concern about the lag time between getting tested and receiving test results, a bill sponsored by Assembly Democrats Roy Freiman, Anthony Verrelli and Verlina Reynolds-Jackson to require facilities offering COVID-19 tests to provide accurate timeframes for test results to residents and to require the Department of Health to update its COVID-19 website with testing locations offering results within 48 hours was approved by the full Assembly, 75-0, Thursday.

“Turnaround for testing results has gone from two days to a week or more for too many residents,” said Freiman (D- Somerset, Mercer, Middlesex, Hunterdon). “We began with the premise that testing people quickly will allow them to self-quarantine quickly to prevent transmission to more people. Longer delays for test results will make it much harder to slow the spread of this virus amongst us.”

The bill (A-4412) would require, prior to testing an individual for COVID-19, a public or private facility that performs COVID-19 tests is to inform the patient of the timeframe in which he or she will receive test results and provide the results of his or her COVID-19 test within the timeframe specified.

Also under the bill, the Commissioner of Health is to update the New Jersey COVID-19 Information Hub Internet website in a manner that provides information regarding which testing locations listed on the website provide a coronavirus test result within 48 hours after a test is performed.

“The longer the wait for test results, the more work for contact tracers to track those who have been in contact with an individual who tests positive,” Verrelli (D-Mercer, Hunterdon). “This magnifies the risk of an infected individual spreading the virus to others. Residents should know what to expect when they are tested and testing locations should be updated regularly on the COVID-19 website.”

“Residents deserve to know quickly whether they need to isolate or take other precautions to contain the spread of the virus,” said Reynolds-Jackson (D-Mercer, Hunterdon). “They also need to know exactly when to expect their COVID-19 test results. Posting testing sites with shorter wait times regularly will give residents access to up-to-date information on which center has a backlog and where they can go to get a test.”