There was an error in our newsletter sent earlier today. Jefferson-Madison Regional Libraries are not providing free rapid COVID-19 test kits at this time. We appreciate your patience. Please see corrected information.

Holiday Food Safety

While we take measures to prevent the spread of respiratory illness this holiday season, let’s not forget that foodborne illnesses impact tens of thousands of people each year. We know the tummies are rumbling, so make sure you’re up-to-date on safe food preparation for the upcoming Thanksgiving feasts! 

Here are four simple steps to ensure you are serving safely this season:

1. Clean: Wash hands often for 20 seconds with soap and water before, during, and after preparing food and before eating. Wash your utensils, cutting boards, and countertops with hot, soapy water after preparing each food item.
2. Separate: Don’t cross-contaminate. Raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs can spread germs to ready-to-eat foods, unless you keep them separate.
3. Cook to the right temperature: Food is safely cooked when the internal temperature gets high enough to kill germs that can make you sick. The only way to tell if food is safely cooked is to use a food thermometer. You can’t tell if food is safely cooked by checking its color and texture (except for seafood).
4. Chill: Refrigerate promptly. Bacteria can multiply rapidly if left at room temperature or in the “Danger Zone” between 40°F and 140°F.

Lastly, consider the chef’s health - if they’ve been feeling under the weather, let someone else prepare the food. One out of five foodborne illnesses is attributed to individuals cooking while sick! For more safety tips on serving your favorite family recipes safely, visit the CDC’s website on holiday food safety or read last year’s Food Safety and Turkey Tips Health Whys article from BRHD.

Turkey & Test

Are you and your turkey (or tofu!) prepared to safely gather with family and friends this holiday? At-home COVID-19 test kits are widely available around the district, so make sure you’re stocked up- we want to pass the potatoes, not a COVID-19 infection! The majority of local pharmacies have test kits available for purchase, and BRHD is also hosting free test kit distribution events in December - read below for more details.

For in-person testing resources around the District, visit our COVID-19 Testing webpage.

Pediatric Associates’ COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics

We will be at Pediatric Associates of Charlottesville’s downtown office (1011 E. Jefferson Street) to offer free COVID-19 vaccines and bivalent boosters on Tuesdays, November 29, and December 6, 20, and 27 from 4PM - 6PM. Everyone ages 6 months and older are welcome!  You can schedule an appointment online via VASE+ and walk-ins are also welcome. Remember - we will not be offering COVID-19 vaccines or boosters out in the community after December 30, so join us for a free COVID-19 vaccine before we’re gone!

World AIDS Day Free HIV Testing

Started in December of 1988, World AIDS Day is an international day dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection and mourning those who have died of the disease. In honor of this mission, the Blue Ridge Rapid team will be hosting a walk-in testing event on Wednesday, November 30 from 9AM - 4PM at the Charlottesville/Albemarle Health Department (door 1 at 1138 Rose Hill Drive, Charlottesville, Va.). Anyone who has an interest in learning their status and helping to stop the spread of HIV in our state is welcome to come to this event to receive a free Rapid HIV and Hepatitis C test with results in 20 minutes. If you would like to be tested for HIV but are unable to attend the Walk-in Testing event, you can request a FREE At-Home HIV test kit to be mailed to you.

Free COVID-19 Supplies & Toy Drive

Mark your calendars! In preparation for the winter holiday season, our Community Health Workers will be stopping by each BRHD location to give away free at-home COVID-19 test kits and KN95 masks. We’ll also be taking toy donations to give to local nonprofits. Please note: only unopened toys will be accepted. 

Each event will take place from 3PM - 6PM in the parking lot (look for our mobile health unit 'MOBI') on the dates below:

• Nelson County Health Department: Monday, December 5
• Louisa County Health Department: Thursday, December 8 
• Yancey Community Health Center: Saturday, December 10 
• Greene County Health Department: Monday, December 12 
• Fluvanna County Health Department: Tuesday, December 13 
• Charlottesville/Albemarle Health Department: Thursday, December 15

For questions or more details, call our COVID-19 Hotline at 434-972-6261 (open M-F 8:30am-4:30pm, closed 11/24-11/25). Visit our Test Kit and Mask Distribution Events webpage to find more details and flyers for each event in English and Spanish.