Howard University Hospital opens free COVID-19 testing site in Northeast DC

(Howard University Faculty Practice Plan)

Howard University Faculty Practice Plan, in partnership with Bank of America, has opened a free COVID-19 testing site in an effort to serve "diverse Washington, D.C. communities located east of the river." 

The testing site officially opened on Tuesday at the newly-repurposed Benning Road Center, which is located at 4414 Benning Road, N.E., Washington, D.C., Suite 2400. 

COVID-19 BY THE NUMBERS: DC, Maryland and Virginia coronavirus case totals

Officials say testing will be available on Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the next three months. 

D.C. residents can sign up for an appointment by calling 202-865-2119, option 3. The Howard University team will see patients who are "showing symptoms or who believe they are asymptomatic." A prescription is not necessary to get tested. 

Download the FOX 5 DC News App for Local Breaking News and Weather

“You will not need to have a doctor’s prescription in advance to get tested at our location,” said Dr. Hugh E. Mighty, Howard University vice president of clinical affairs. “We want to eliminate the obstacles so more people can be tested because we believe everyone should be tested. We want to screen our community neighbors in the areas where there are higher incidents of hypertension, heart disease and diabetes because those pre-existing conditions are linked to the higher incidents of coronavirus that we’ve seen in African American communities.”

Click here for more information on the testing site