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BOSTON
- Wednesday, October 14, 2020 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh yesterday announced a
new partnership with Whittier Street Health Center, adding a second team to
the City of Boston's COVID-19 mobile testing capacity. This new site is now
located in Nubian Square, in the Blair Parking Lot onPalmer Street and
Harrison Avenue. Additionally, the first COVID-19 mobile testing team, in
partnership with East Boston Neighborhood Health Center, has returned to
East Boston at Central Square Park on Border Street across from Liberty
Plaza Shopping Center. Both testing sites are available for everyone
through Saturday, October 24, 2020.
"Making
COVID-19 testing accessible for more Bostonians must continue to be one of
our top priorities as we respond to the ongoing pandemic. This gives
residents clarity and the data guides our cautious, phased reopening,"
said Mayor Walsh. "Thank you to East Boston Neighborhood Health Center
for remaining our partner in keeping residents healthy and bringing vital
resources where they are needed. We are looking forward to working with
Whittier Street Health Center to expand our mobile testing capacity, which
will directly fill in testing gaps where needed."
"We
are thrilled to partner with the City of Boston to expand access to testing
for all - regardless of whether they have symptoms - and whether they are
at risk of spreading the infection to others," said Frederica M.
Williams president and CEO of Whittier Street Health Center. "Testing
plays a critical role in the efforts to contain and mitigate the COVID-19
pandemic by identifying infected individuals to help prevent further
person-to-person transmission of COVID-19."
Whittier Street Health Center: Nubian Square in Roxbury
In
Nubian Square, testing is now available through Saturday, October 24, 2020
during the dates and hours listed below in the Blair Parking Lot
on Palmer Street and Harrison Avenue. Anyone can be tested at no cost
and regardless of COVID-19 symptoms. Individuals are asked to register by
calling 617-858-2406.
The
dates and hours of operation are:
- Wednesday, October 14 - Friday,
October 16: 1:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
- Saturday, October 17: 10:00
a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, October 20 - Friday,
October 23: 1:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
- Saturday, October 24: 10:00
a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
East Boston Neighborhood Health Center: Central Square in East
Boston
In
East Boston's Central Square, testing is now available through Saturday,
October 24 on Border Street across from Liberty Plaza Shopping Center.
Testing is available at no cost for everyone. Individuals are asked to
register by calling 617-568-4500.
The
dates and hours of operation are:
- Wednesday, October 14: 8:30
a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
- Thursday, October 15 - Friday,
October 16: 1:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
- Saturday, October 17: 10:00
a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, October 20: 1:00 p.m.
- 5:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, October 21: 8:30
a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
- Thursday, October 22 - Friday,
October 23: 1:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
- Saturday, October 24: 10:00
a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
"We
thank Mayor Walsh and his team for prioritizing East Boston and welcome the
opportunity to provide additional testing capacity to residents in our
community. Our sites are safe, convenient, and operated by trusted
resources in East Boston," said East Boston Neighborhood Health Center
president and CEO Manny Lopes. "We are asking community members to get
tested to protect themselves and their loved ones. Together, we can control
the spread in this community and across this area."
The
mobile site testing initiative was announced by Mayor Walsh in May as a way
to help fill any gaps in testing availability, prioritizing neighborhoods
and populations that need dedicated testing efforts to create equitable
access to testing. The first mobile testing team has previously been
located in Roxbury, Allston, South Boston, Mattapan, East Boston, and
Dorchester. At the Dorchester mobile site in Grove Hall, there were 702
COVID-19 tests ordered. Of results received, 2.86 percent tested positive
for COVID-19.
In
addition to the City's two mobile testing sites, COVID-19 testing is
available at nearly 30 locations across the city. Individuals can call the
Mayor's Health Line with any questions using 617-534-5050. For a complete
list of all testing sites, visit here.
The
City of Boston has been partnering with community health centers to
increase access to testing, particularly in neighborhoods experiencing
higher rates of COVID-19. As of Monday, October 5, 2020, there were 297,125
COVID-19 tests of Boston residents. Out of 297,125 total tests, 6.2% have
tested positive. For all Boston residents, the positivity for tests
increased from 3.9% for the prior week (September 22 - 28) to 4.1% for the
current week (September 29 - October 5). The latest numbers of cases from
the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) by neighborhoods are available here.
Mayor
Walsh and the Boston Resiliency Fund Steering Committee have dedicated over
$1,794,825 to expand COVID-19 testing and conduct culturally appropriate
outreach and education to community health centers across City of Boston
neighborhoods, including Bowdoin Street Community Health Center, Codman
Square Community Health Center, The Dimock Center, DotHouse Health,
Mattapan Community Health Center, Uphams Corner Community Health Center,
Whittier Street Community Health Center, Charles River Community Health,
Fenway Health, Greater Roslindale Medical & Dental Center, Harbor
Health, East Boston Neighborhood Health Center, Harvard Street Neighborhood
Health Center, Southern Jamaica Plain Health Center, South Boston Community
Health Center, NEW Health Charlestown, South End Community Health Center,
and Brookside Community Health Center. The Fund has also supported
telehealth services and equipment at those community health centers as well
to connect testing to safe treatment options at home.
Resources
and information about COVID-19 are available online. Resources available on
boston.gov and through City departments include support for renters and
homeowners; small businesses; free meals for Boston students; free
toiletries for Boston students; support for older residents; information on
homeless shelters; resources for those in recovery or those who have a
substance use disorder; and mental health resources. More information on
Boston's reopening can be found at boston.gov/reopening.
For
additional questions or programs, please visit our coronavirus website or
call 3-1-1, Boston's 24-hour constituent hotline. Text BOSCOVID to 888-777
to receive text alerts on a regular basis, available in 11 languages. |
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