| Mayor Marty Walsh thinks there is no need to worry about protest. (By Chutze Chou) | BOSTON
- Wednesday, November 4, 2020 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh yesterday announced
the City of Boston's two mobile testing teams are now available again to
anyone at no cost and regardless of symptoms. East Boston Neighborhood
Health Center will continue its mobile operation in East Boston's Central
Square Park located on Border Street across from Liberty Plaza Shopping
Center. Whittier Street Health Center will operate in Mattapan at Jubilee
Christian Church at 1500 Blue Hill Avenue. Both testing sites are available
through Saturday, November 14.
"As
we see an increase in COVID-19 activity, it is vital that we continue to
ensure access to testing, especially in neighborhoods and communities where
there's a greater positivity rate. And, in addition to the City of
Boston providing availability, I need every Bostonian to get tested, even
if they aren't showing symptoms, so individuals can protect their health
and the City can be guided by accurate public health data," said Mayor
Walsh. "Thank you to East Boston Neighborhood Health Center and
Whittier Street Health Center for helping to provide this important
resource and healthcare to our residents."
East Boston Neighborhood Health Center: Central Square in East
Boston
In
East Boston, testing is available through Saturday, November 14 in Central
Square Park on Border Street, across from Liberty Plaza Shopping Center.
Testing is available to anyone at no cost and regardless of symptoms.
Individuals are asked to register by calling 617-568-4500.
The dates and hours of operation are:
Wednesday,
November 4 - Friday, November 6: 1:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Saturday,
November 7: 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Tuesday,
November 10 - Friday, November 13: 1:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Saturday,
November 14: 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
"We
are again thankful for Mayor Walsh and the City of Boston for providing
East Boston with key testing resources. Now more than ever, we need to
focus on identifying and stopping the spread of COVID-19," said East
Boston Neighborhood Health Center president and CEO Manny Lopes. "The
entire team at EBNHC urges East Boston and surrounding neighborhoods to
wear a mask, wash your hands, practice social distancing, and get tested.
We can make a difference if we do it together."
Whittier Street Health Center: Jubilee Christian Church in
Mattapan
In
Mattapan, testing is available through Saturday, November 14, 2020 at
Jubilee Christian Church, which is located at 1500 Blue Hill Avenue. Anyone
can get tested at no cost and regardless of COVID-19 symptoms during the
hours listed below. Individuals are asked to register by calling
617-858-2406.
The dates and hours of operation are:
Wednesday,
November 4 - Friday, November 6: 1:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Saturday,
November 7: 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Tuesday,
November 10 - Friday, November 13: 1:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Saturday,
November 14: 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
"With
recent daily reports of coronavirus cases in Boston and across the country
surging to previously unseen heights since the pandemic began, we deeply
value the opportunity to partner with the city to make free COVID-19
testing available to all," Frederica M. Williams, President and CEO of
Whittier Street Health Care Center. "We are in an urgent crisis, and
with testing, contact tracing and following the CDC guidelines of how to
protect yourself and others, we believe that we should be able to bend the
curve and keep everyone safe and healthy."
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 teams have previously been
located in Roxbury, Allston, South Boston, Mattapan, East Boston, and
Dorchester. At the Roxbury mobile site in Nubian Square, there were 841
COVID-19 tests given.
In
addition to the City's two mobile testing sites, COVID-19 testing is
available at over 30 locations across the city. Individuals can call the
Mayor's Health Line with any questions using 617-534-5050. View
a complete list of all testing sites.
Mayor
Walsh
recently announced the City of Boston launched "Get The Test,
Boston," a pledge designed to encourage residents to get a
COVID-19 test. Additionally, businesses who sign the pledge will share
testing resources and information with their employees. So far, over 20
businesses have signed onto the pledge, including Benjamin Franklin
Institute of Technology, Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics, Boston Red Sox,
Boston Main Streets, Bunker Hill Community College, Drift, Greater Boston
Labor Council, MassChallenge, Nutter McClennen & Fish LLP, Rapid 7,
Rise Construction Management, Roxbury Community College, Stop & Shop,
Flour Bakery & Cafe, Myers & Chang, Sociedad Latina, Weber
Shandwick, Soleil Restaurant, Emerson College, TD Garden, The Greater
Boston Chamber of Commerce, UNITE HERE Local 26, and Wayfair.
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 Saturday, October 31, 2020, there were
340,542 COVID-19 tests of Boston residents. Out of 340,542 total tests,
6.2% have tested positive. For all Boston residents, the positivity for
tests decreased from 8.0% for the prior week (October 18-24) to 7.2% for
the current week (October 25-31). The latest numbers of cases from the
Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) by neighborhoods are available
online.
Mayor
Walsh and the Boston Resiliency Fund Steering Committee have dedicated over
$1,790,000 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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