Pa. Department of Health launches mobile covid-19 testing RV
The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Tuesday announced a new covid-19 mobile response unit, designed to provide testing and education for minority and underserved communities.
The effort is part of a partnership with Latino Connection, Highmark Blue Shield and the Independence Blue Cross Foundation.
“We share a unified purpose of building healthy communities through access to care and education to create a healthy Pennsylvania for all,” Pennsylvania Department of Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine said.
The unit is known as CATE — Community-Accessible Testing & Education.
CATE is equipped for on-site covid-19 testing through a mobile RV. The program will also emphasize educating the public on staying healthy during the pandemic. No insurance is required.
“We’re very excited to work with the Pennsylvania Department of Health and Latino Connection to address the need for increased covid-19 testing in underserved communities throughout the region,” President of the Independence Blue Cross Foundation Lorina Marshall-Blake said. “Education and testing are essential to ending the devastation of this pandemic in our communities, particularly among minorities and communities of color who have been disproportionately affected by covid-19.”
CATE costed $498,000. The department of Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity Enhancing Detection fund contributed a $331,000 grant.
After each event, specimens will be taken to state labs for testing.
Services will be available at a first come, first serve basis. At most locations, testing will be available to anyone who believes they’ve been exposed to covid-19. Some providers may, however, test only symptomatic patients.
Masking and social distancing guidelines will be followed.
The mobile unit is scheduled for stops in Adams, Allegheny, Chester, Berks, Bucks, Delaware, Erie, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia, and York counties.
The full schedule is available on the website or on Facebook.
Julia Felton is a TribLive reporter covering Pittsburgh City Hall and other news in and around Pittsburgh. A La Roche University graduate, she joined the Trib in 2020. She can be reached at jfelton@triblive.com.
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