BOSTON - Monday, April 20, 2020 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh and the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) today launched a new mapping tool to
help Boston residents find locations offering COVID-19 testing. The
City of Boston is partnering with community health centers to increase
access to testing, particularly in neighborhoods experiencing higher rates of COVID-19.
"Every community
deserves full access to COVID-19 testing. We will continue to work to
expand access to testing for all residents across Boston, particularly
our hardest hit communities," said Mayor Walsh. "Access to
neighborhood-based testing will help us quickly identify cases, and get
people the care and support needed to recover and prevent the further
spread of COVID-19"
According to the latest data from the Boston Public Health Commission,
Hyde Park had 413 reported cases of COVID-19, Mattapan had 298,
Dorchester had 1,274, East Boston had 410, Roxbury had 335, Roslindale
had 302, and the South End had 372.
The map is available on boston.gov/coronavirus and bphc.org/coronavirus. Residents are asked to call ahead for pre-screening and to schedule an appointment. Residents
can click on the interactive map to find the testing center with hours,
address and contact information. It will be updated as new sites become
available for testing.
Testing is free regardless of insurance or immigration
status. Residents are encouraged to call the Mayor's Health Line at
(617) 534-5050 to help with health insurance applications, navigating
Boston's health care system, and with COVID-19 questions.
Last week, Mayor Walsh and the Resiliency Fund Steering Committee announced additional funds
for organizations that provide critical services and support to
residents, vulnerable populations and Boston families whose wellbeing is
most immediately impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency.
The East Boston Community Health Center received funding in
the first round of fund distribution and will be expanding their testing
to East Boston clients, in addition to first responders. Six community
health centers in neighborhoods seeing higher incidences of COVID-19 to
expand their testing capabilities for residents, including:
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 and families; free toiletries for Boston students;
emergency childcare centers; support for older residents; information on
homeless shelters; transportation options for health care workers;
resources for those in recovery or those who have a substance use
disorder; and mental health resources.
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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Monday, April 20, 2020
Mayor Walsh releases new map with testing site for East Boston:
