Coronavirus Testing Goes Mobile in Seattle

Rather than send local residents to city-run testing sites in the East Bay of California, clinics in East Oakland are now running their own testing sites to better serve their community. Although one of the sites has already tested nearly 100 people and residents who are underinsured or uninsured can be tested for free, some believe the effort should have started much sooner.

Health care workers at the University of Washington are now able to get tested for coronavirus via a drive-through. Providing both convenience and safety by limiting exposure of the potentially ill, the test only takes five minutes and those tested usually get their results within a day.

To limit exposure during coronavirus testing, South Korea began piloting drive-thru test sites that allow those being tested to remain in their cars. The drive-thru, which sends results to the patient via text message three days later, has tested nearly 400 people in one day, helping to ease pressure oncovi other testing sites.

Because of coordinated partnerships between local governments, state health departments, and nonprofit groups, more and more farmworkers are receiving COVID-19 vaccinations. Through the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services Farmworker Health program and its partners, nearly 14,000 doses were administered to the farmworker community over two months. Advocates also have to dispel rumors and myths about the vaccines, but they are working to combat that misinformation and make it easier for them to get vaccinated.

A new initiative in Cleveland, Ohio aims to increase Covid-19 testing access in communities where social determinants of health pose a barrier to accessing testing sites. The initiative, which complements other city-wide efforts to increase testing, is facilitated by a partnership between 17 local churches and the County Board of Health.

¡Salud! mobile clinics were a vital factor in keeping farm workers in Oregon vineyards safe during the national health crisis. The nonprofit is supported by the state's wine industry and has provided primary care wellness checks, vaccinations, and more for decades to workers, the majority of whom do not have any other access to health care. ¡Salud! provided testing and masks early on in addition to information about the importance of masks and social distancing. Translated CDC updates were also sent to the mostly spanish-speaking workers about the constantly-changing guidelines and precautions.

Birmingham, Alabama’s Church of the Highlands has opened up a drive-through COVID19 testing station that has already seen over 1,000 people. By coordinating with Alabama’s governor, the church is able to help test people who are showing symptoms and then give them directives on what to do next, whether it be to go to the hospital or go home and rest. Those with health insurance get their insurance billed, but for those without, they don’t have to pay at all.

Drive-through coronavirus testing sites aren't just safer for all involved, they're also more efficient. Although the limited exposure to hospital personnel and other patients is critical for slowing the spread, drive-throughs, and walk-up tents also allow for more people to be tested at a faster rate by eliminating barriers such as patient intake.

South Korea has had an extremely effective response to the coronavirus because of its fast and widespread use of testing. There are now drive-through tests available where people recommended by their doctor can take a test from the safety of their vehicle. This decreases the chances of transmission and lowers the stress of both patient and doctor. As a result, the rate of increase has been slowing since February 29, 2020.

Volunteers with India’s Meds For More initiative (MFM) collect leftover unused medications from recovered Covid-19 patients by canvassing their apartment buildings, offices, student clubs, schools, and other locations. Once collected, MFM distributes them to NGOs licensed to work in the health sector, who transport the medicines to marginalized communities in urban and rural areas. Medical professionals sort and pack the medicines and give them to local hospitals and health care centers, who distribute them to patients. The success of the program has inspired similar initiatives in several other cities.