April 23, 2021
Media Contact:
Deidre McCabe, Director, Office of
Communications, 410-767-3536
Charles Gischlar, Deputy Director,
Media Relations, 410-767-6491
Maryland Department of
Health offers free, voluntary COVID-19 testing in Oriole Park at Camden Yards
during O’s home games
New community-based site will provide free, convenient PCR testing
Baltimore, MD – The Maryland Department of
Health (MDH) today announced a partnership with Oriole Park at Camden Yards to
open a COVID-19 testing site inside the stadium. Beginning today, the site will
offer free PCR tests before and during all hometown games as part of an ongoing
roll-out of more community focused COVID-19 testing opportunities statewide.
Fans will also have the opportunity to learn about registering for a
vaccination at the site.
“Maryland is fighting COVID with
vaccinations, but continued testing and practicing of safety measures like
wearing masks and maintaining social distance remain a critical part to ending
this pandemic,” said Governor Larry Hogan. “We are grateful for the Orioles
support and partnership and look forward to bringing more testing opportunities
like these into communities across the state.”
“This is just one element in
Maryland’s evolving testing strategy, bringing these critical services directly
into the community,” said MDH Secretary Dennis R. Schrader. “As summer
approaches, we want to support the return to the activities we’ve missed for
over a year—like hometown baseball—and making testing convenient is essential
to being able to do that safely.”
The testing site, located in the
lower concourse across from Section 26, will be open from the time the gates
open, an hour before the game, through the first two and a half hours of that
game or the end of the 8th inning, whichever comes first. Visitors to the
ballgame will be able to make an instant appointment using a QR code posted
throughout the stadium or walk up for free testing.
This is a voluntary opportunity
for fans already in attendance at the game, rather than a requirement for
entrance to the game. All individuals tested will be notified of results by
phone or email and will also have access to an online portal to check their
laboratory results. Results for the tests are usually available within 24-48
hours.
“The Orioles organization
continually goes above and beyond in their commitment to the Baltimore
community,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott. “Their enduring support will further
assist our COVID-19 recovery efforts and help Baltimore residents overcome the
ongoing challenges of the pandemic.”
“We know from public health experts that the best
way to keep our community safe and stop the spread of COVID-19 is through increased
testing and vaccination participation," said John Angelos, Orioles Chairman
and CEO. “By partnering with the Maryland Department of Health to bring on-site
testing and additional vaccination information to Oriole Park, we can continue
these efforts to reach societal immunity and end this pandemic once and for
all.”
To find a COVID-19 testing site
near you, visit covidtest.maryland.gov.
For more information about
COVID-19 in Maryland visit covidLINK.maryland.gov.
For the most recent Maryland
COVID-19 data, visit coronavirus.maryland.gov.
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The Maryland Department of Health is dedicated to protecting and
improving the health and safety of all Marylanders through disease prevention,
access to care, quality management and community engagement.
Follow us at http://www.twitter.com/MDHealthDept and https://www.facebook.com/MDHealthDept.
