Last week, Jefferson Health opened a second public COVID-19 testing site in Southwest Philadelphia, located in the Richard Allen Preparatory Charter School parking lot.
The city is funding the testing site, and it is administered by Jefferson Health. The new testing site will be open Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Jefferson’s COVID-19 Task Force will conduct testing. The task force worked with multiple organizations to identify areas that needed additional testing.
“As we reopen schools, churches, offices, and other public spaces, there is a critical need for easy access to COVID-19 testing,” Dr. Edith P. Mitchell, a Jefferson Clinical Professor of Medicine and Medical Oncology and an expert in health disparities, said. “To keep our communities safe, we must expand testing access, so we know who is sick and how this disease spreads. The goal of this project is to reduce health disparities and bring testing at no cost to patients in areas with the most need.”
Testing is free, and people are encouraged to make an appointment. Priority will be given to symptomatic patients.
Jefferson’s first location is at the St. Raymond of Penafort Church school parking lot.