 | | 波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu)和Somerville市府工作人員合影。(周菊子攝) |
(Boston Orange 編譯) 波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu) 今天(20號)宣佈，分發免費居家快速抗體檢測試劑盒給所市民的計畫。
分發行動已從上週末開始，在波士頓公共圖書館各分館，東波士頓巴黎街(Paris)，海德公園的河流街(River)，麥特潘地Mildred大道，Mission
Hill的Tobin，洛士百利的Shelburne的青年及家庭社區中心(BCYF)，以及在布萊頓(Brighton)，柯普利廣場，Codman廣場，東波士頓，Grove
Hall，麥特潘，羅森岱爾，洛士百利，南波士頓等地的公共圖書館開始發放。
波士頓市府計畫在所有的BCYF和公共圖書館分館分發。
如果數量夠的話，波士頓居民將也可為他們的直系親屬索取這免費居家檢測試劑。
波士頓市公共衛生局 (BPHC) 也在和緊急管理辦公室、波士頓公校，以及其他市府部門合作這分發計畫。
上星期，麻州州政府才宣佈了將分發210萬劑檢測。波士頓市在從州政府那兒拿到的試劑和波士頓市府本月早前的購買試劑計畫加起來，波士頓市府將可在波士頓各地分發26萬劑檢測給市民。
在實施做法上，波士頓公校的大約5萬5千名學生，將收到2劑居家檢測劑，以確保他們寒假過後安全返校。波士頓房屋局將為17,000以上居民提供檢測劑，波士頓耆英局
(Age Strong Boston)和殘障委員會將協助耆英居民獲取這資源。
波士頓市還將採用針對性方法來接觸特定的弱勢人口，包括和服務供應商，社區合作夥伴，疫苗平等夥伴等合作，來確保直接並及時的分發檢測劑。
吳弭表示，「在進入假期季節之際，我們必須依靠檢測，接種疫苗，以及其他安全措施來確保我們及我們所愛之人的安全」。Ojikutu
博士將在全市各機構的合作下，率領團隊協助社區一起安全「抗疫」。她感謝麻州州長查理貝克的迅速行動，以及所有市府員工在分發檢測劑上的辛勤工作。
和麻州及全國的趨勢一樣，波士頓的確診病例數和住院人數也激增，使得緩解和預防工作在這個假期中比以往任何時候都更重要。吳市長和
Bisola Ojikutu 博士敦促所有居民接種疫苗和加強劑。曾暴露在新冠病毒(
COVID-19)之下 或上呼吸道出現症狀者，不論是否曾接種疫苗，請立即做檢測。查詢有關診所和疫苗的訊息，可上網
https://www.boston.gov/departments/public-health-commission/covid-19-vaccine-boston。查詢哪裡可以就近找到免費快速檢測套件等資訊者，可上網
https://www.boston.gov/departments/public-health-commission/free-covid-19-home-test-kits。 MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES CITY IS DEPLOYING FREE AT-HOME RAPID COVID-19 TEST KITS
Tests now available at 14 Boston Public Library Branches and BCYF Community Centers BOSTON – Monday,
December 20, 2021 - Mayor Michelle Wu today announced the distribution
plan for free, at-home rapid antigen test kits for all city residents. The
initial distribution began this past weekend with delivery of test kits to
many Boston Public Library branches and Boston Centers for Youth &
Families community centers. The free test kits are currently available at
BCYF community centers at Paris Street in East Boston, Hyde Park on River
St., Mildred Ave. in Mattapan, and the Tobin in Mission Hill and Shelburne
in Roxbury, as well as Boston Public Library Branches in Brighton, Copley
Square, Codman Square, East Boston, Grove Hall, Mattapan, Roslindale,
Roxbury, and South Boston with plans in place for additional distribution
sites to follow, including all BPL and BCYF sites. Boston residents seeking
a test kit will also be able to obtain kits for their immediate family,
subject to availability. The Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) is also
coordinating with the Office of Emergency Management, Boston Public
Schools, and other city departments on the distribution plan.
Last week, state
officials announced that they would be providing 2.1 million kits
statewide. With these state kits and the City’s initial purchase of test
kits earlier in the month, the City of Boston will be providing more than
260,000 kits for distribution throughout Boston. Each kit contains two
tests, meaning there are over half a million free rapid tests available to
residents.
As part of the
deployment strategy, the City is working with Boston Public Schools and the
Boston Housing Authority (BHA) to reach the families they serve. Each one
of the approximately 55,000 BPS students will receive an at home test kit
with two tests to help ensure a safe return to school after winter break.
BHA will make testing kits available for their over 17,000 residents and
Age Strong Boston and the Disabilities Commission will help connect seniors
and Bostonians with disabilities with this
resource.
Additional test kit
distribution will employ a targeted approach to reach specific vulnerable
populations. The City will coordinate with service providers, community
partners, and Vaccine Equity partners to ensure direct and timely
distribution.
“As we enter the
holiday season, we must rely on testing, vaccination and other safety
practices to ensure the health of us and our loved ones. Led by Dr. Ojikutu
with collaboration from agencies across the city, we will help our
communities be together and celebrate safely. I am grateful to Governor
Baker for swift action and all our city employees for their hard work to
get these test kits into the hands of our residents,” said Mayor Michelle
Wu.
“We’re distributing
these kits with a focus on communities and populations experiencing higher
rates of COVID-19 and barriers to testing, including people who cannot
afford to purchase these kits from stores,” said Dr. Bisola Ojikutu,
Executive Director of the Boston Public Health Commission. “Rapid antigen
testing is an important mitigation strategy to prevent COVID-19
transmission. Access must be equitable.”
Consistent with
state and national trends, Boston is experiencing a surge in case numbers
and hospitalizations, making mitigation and prevention efforts more
important than ever this holiday season. Mayor Wu and Dr. Bisola Ojikutu
urge all residents to get vaccinated and boosted. If you are exposed to
COVID-19 or presenting upper respiratory symptoms, please get tested
immediately, regardless of vaccine status. For information about clinics
and vaccine availability visit https://www.boston.gov/departments/public-health-commission/covid-19-vaccine-boston. For more information on where to find a
free rapid test kit near you, visit https://www.boston.gov/departments/public-health-commission/free-covid-19-home-test-kits.
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