COVID-19 mobile testing site returns to East Boston; second site created in Roxbury

Mayor Martin J. Walsh yesterday announced a new partnership with Whittier Street Health Center, adding a second team to the City of Boston's COVID-19 mobile testing capacity. This new site is now located in Nubian Square, in the Blair Parking Lot on Palmer Street and Harrison Avenue. Additionally, the first COVID-19 mobile testing team, in partnership with East Boston Neighborhood Health Center, has returned to East Boston at Central Square Park on Border Street across from Liberty Plaza Shopping Center. Both testing sites are available for everyone through Saturday, October 24, 2020. 

"Making COVID-19 testing accessible for more Bostonians must continue to be one of our top priorities as we respond to the ongoing pandemic. This gives residents clarity and the data guides our cautious, phased reopening," said Mayor Walsh. "Thank you to East Boston Neighborhood Health Center for remaining our partner in keeping residents healthy and bringing vital resources where they are needed. We are looking forward to working with Whittier Street Health Center to expand our mobile testing capacity, which will directly fill in testing gaps where needed."

"We are thrilled to partner with the City of Boston to expand access to testing for all - regardless of whether they have symptoms - and whether they are at risk of spreading the infection to others," said Frederica M. Williams president and CEO of Whittier Street Health Center. "Testing plays a critical role in the efforts to contain and mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic by identifying infected individuals to help prevent further person-to-person transmission of COVID-19."

Whittier Street Health Center: Nubian Square in Roxbury

In Nubian Square, testing is now available through Saturday, October 24, 2020 during the dates and hours listed below in the Blair Parking Lot on Palmer Street and Harrison Avenue. Anyone can be tested at no cost and regardless of COVID-19 symptoms. Individuals are asked to register by calling 617-858-2406.

The dates and hours of operation are:

• Wednesday, October 14 - Friday, October 16:  1 - 5:30 p.m.
• Saturday, October 17: 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, October 20 - Friday, October 23: 1 - 5:30 p.m.
• Saturday, October 24: 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

East Boston Neighborhood Health Center: Central Square in East Boston

In East Boston's Central Square, testing is now available through Saturday, October 24 on Border Street across from Liberty Plaza Shopping Center. Testing is available at no cost for everyone. Individuals are asked to register by calling 617-568-4500.

The dates and hours of operation are:

• Wednesday, October 14: 8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
• Thursday, October 15 - Friday, October 16: 1 - 5:30 p.m.
• Saturday, October 17: 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, October 20: 1 - 5:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, October 21: 8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
• Thursday, October 22 - Friday, October 23: 1 - 5:30 p.m.
• Saturday, October 24: 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

"We thank Mayor Walsh and his team for prioritizing East Boston and welcome the opportunity to provide additional testing capacity to residents in our community. Our sites are safe, convenient, and operated by trusted resources in East Boston," said East Boston Neighborhood Health Center president and CEO Manny Lopes. "We are asking community members to get tested to protect themselves and their loved ones. Together, we can control the spread in this community and across this area."

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 team has previously been located in Roxbury, Allston, South Boston, Mattapan, East Boston, and Dorchester. At the Dorchester mobile site in Grove Hall, there were 702 COVID-19 tests ordered. Of results received, 2.86 percent tested positive for COVID-19. 

In addition to the City's two mobile testing sites, COVID-19 testing is available at nearly 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. 

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 Monday, October 5, 2020, there were 297,125 COVID-19 tests of Boston residents. Out of 297,125 total tests, 6.2% have tested positive. For all Boston residents, the positivity for tests increased from 3.9% for the prior week (September 22 - 28) to 4.1% for the current week (September 29 - October 5). 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 $1,794,825 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.