City Partners with CORE on Mobile Testing Site in Central City
NEW ORLEANS — Today, the City of New Orleans Health Department will coordinate with Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE) to provide a month long mobile site to test residents of Central City for COVID-19.
The site will open Tuesday (May 19) at Guste Homes (1301 Simon Bolivar Ave.), from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. or when the daily testing supply runs out. The site is expected to serve 250 residents each day. Additional locations may be considered as the project moves forward.
"We have identified ramped-up testing as a major milestone for advancing the phased reopening of New Orleans. Partnerships have played a critical role in moving this particular aspect forward. I'd like to thank CORE co-founders Sean Penn and Ann Lee and the rest of their team as they stand up this month-long project at Guste Homes in Central City — the very definition of meeting people where they are," said Mayor LaToya Cantrell. "We're equally excited to have the New Orleans Health Department and students from local universities doing their part in this effort as well."
Applying their model of partnering with local governance and NGOs, CORE brings testing expertise to New Orleans after administering nearly 200,000 free tests at more than 26 testing sites across California, Illinois, Georgia, North Carolina, Michigan and the Navajo Nation. With a team of 150 dedicated staff and 450 volunteers, CORE is focused on expanding free COVID-19 testing to vulnerable and underserved communities, including low-income groups and communities of color, as well as first responders and essential workers.
The testing site will be operated by CORE staff members and volunteers who are part of the New Orleans community, including graduate students from Xavier and Tulane universities. The New Orleans Health Department will also provide staffing.
“As a baby of the Landrieu generation, I know that New Orleans doesn’t need a guiding comment from me. New Orleans was my first teacher, the most courageous and resilient city in America. We are privileged to have the faith of its leadership and its community to work side by side with the warriors of frontline citizenry,” said CORE Co-Founder Sean Penn.
“We have been so fortunate to have partners in Mayor Cantrell, Dr. Avegno, and Chantell Reed. Already like family, we are moving as one unit to increase testing in New Orleans, alongside the philosophical and financial support of Jack Dorsey’s #StartSmall and The Rockefeller Foundation,” said CORE Co-Founder and CEO Ann Lee.
“Bringing testing to every neighborhood in New Orleans is a critical focus for the Health Department. By meeting residents where they live, we can ensure equitable access and resources, building a stronger and healthier community for the future. We are excited to support and partner with CORE on this project to help keep the curve flat in New Orleans,” said Health Director Dr. Jennifer Avegno.
TESTING DATES
Tuesday, May 19, 2020 - Guste Housing
Wednesday, May 20, 2020 - Guste Housing
Thursday, May 21, 2020 - Lafitte Senior Housing
Friday, May 22, 2020 - Fischer Senior Housing
Saturday, May 23, 2020 - CLOSED
Sunday, May 24, 2020 - CLOSED
Monday, May 25, 2020 - HOLIDAY
Tuesday, May 26, 2020 - Low Barrier Shelter
Wednesday, May 27, 2020 - Mission Shelter
Thursday, May 28, 2020 - Mission Shelter
Friday, May 29, 2020 - Ozanam Inn
Saturday, May 30, 2020 - CLOSED
Sunday, May 31, 2020 - CLOSED
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