A new testing site for coronavirus is opening in one of Boston’s neighborhoods hardest hit by COVID-19.Brigham and Women’s Hospital continues to focus on Boston neighborhoods considered hot spots. The site will open in Dorchester, which has some of the highest infection rates in the city.Potential patients with symptoms can walk up and get tested for COVID-19 free of charge. No health insurance is necessary, and no questions will be asked about immigration status.Everyone will receive a kit that contains masks, hand sanitizer and educational materials about the virus. Boxes filled with fresh produce will also be distributed to those who qualify.“We have seen there isn’t enough testing, and neighborhoods like Dorchester are hot spots for COVID infections,” Vice President of Community Health and Health Equity at Brigham Health Wanda McClain said.Dr. Christin Price has seen firsthand at previous testing site residents struggling to put food on the table. “It’s been profound, the amount of food insecurity,” Price said. Brigham has provided similar testing and food services in other hard-hit Boston neighborhoods and leaders are finding a troubling trend. “This is something we’re seeing locally but also nationally. Thirty-five percent of families across the country now compared to 18 percent in past couple of years are not able to access food during the COVID epidemic. We just have to do a lot better,” said Dr. Cheryl Clark, director of Health Equity Research & Intervention.Food will be distributed daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Saturday. Testing at the site will be available until Friday.Testing is on a walk-in, first-come, first-serve basis. You do not need to be a Brigham patient to be screened. The site is located at the Sportsmen Tennis and Enrichment Center at 950 Blue Hill Ave.
BOSTON —
A new testing site for coronavirus is opening in one of Boston’s neighborhoods hardest hit by COVID-19.
Brigham and Women’s Hospital continues to focus on Boston neighborhoods considered hot spots. The site will open in Dorchester, which has some of the highest infection rates in the city.
Potential patients with symptoms can walk up and get tested for COVID-19 free of charge.
No health insurance is necessary, and no questions will be asked about immigration status.
Everyone will receive a kit that contains masks, hand sanitizer and educational materials about the virus.
Boxes filled with fresh produce will also be distributed to those who qualify.
“We have seen there isn’t enough testing, and neighborhoods like Dorchester are hot spots for COVID infections,” Vice President of Community Health and Health Equity at Brigham Health Wanda McClain said.
Dr. Christin Price has seen firsthand at previous testing site residents struggling to put food on the table.
“It’s been profound, the amount of food insecurity,” Price said.
Brigham has provided similar testing and food services in other hard-hit Boston neighborhoods and leaders are finding a troubling trend.
“This is something we’re seeing locally but also nationally. Thirty-five percent of families across the country now compared to 18 percent in past couple of years are not able to access food during the COVID epidemic. We just have to do a lot better,” said Dr. Cheryl Clark, director of Health Equity Research & Intervention.
Food will be distributed daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Saturday. Testing at the site will be available until Friday.
Testing is on a walk-in, first-come, first-serve basis. You do not need to be a Brigham patient to be screened.
The site is located at the Sportsmen Tennis and Enrichment Center at 950 Blue Hill Ave.
