There’s been a surge of cases in East Camden, where there is a large immigrant community. Freeholder Lou Cappelli said they may be too afraid to seek medical help.
“They’re afraid to go to doctors. They’re afraid to go to testing. So we’re going to make it as convenient as possible for them to get tested,” he said.
The testing site will be set up at Dudley Grange Park and will open May 5.
Cappelli hopes the central location will make testing more accessible to residents.
“We believe it will be easier to get members of that community tested if the site is within walking distance,” he added.
The other testing site is being set up at the DMV parking lot on Mount Ephraim Avenue. It opens Wednesday at noon.
The county is also working to secure newly developed saliva tests by Rutgers.
“What we’ve done at this point is set up a co-op purchase agreement for all of our long-term care facilities,” Cappelli said. “We’re acting as a conduit if those facilities need to purchase testing from Rutgers.”
The current testing site at the Camden waterfront will close Friday afternoon.
To make an appointment at either site, call 856-968-7100.