MERCER ADDS COVID-19 TEST SITE IN HIGHTSTOWN
Mercer County, in collaboration with health care and municipal partners, is operating an appointment-only, drive-up test site for COVID-19 at Quaker Bridge Mall in Lawrence, and appointment-only walk-up test sites in Trenton for individuals who lack transportation to the mall location.
Beginning May 8, an appointment-only, walk-up test site will be open in Hightstown for individuals who lack transportation to the mall.
Testing will be provided for symptomatic Mercer County residents age 18 or older who have an appointment. The Trenton Health Team, one of Mercer County’s partners on COVID-19 testing, put together the following Q&A on how to get tested. En Español
You must have a doctor’s order and an appointment to be tested
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Do you have COVID-19 symptoms?
Symptoms include fever, shortness of breath, body aches or being tired all the time. Stay home and contact a doctor.
How do you get a test?
Contact a doctor to discuss how you feel. A doctor must order a test for you. If a test is needed, your doctor will fax a prescription to the Mercer County health call center at 609-630-4031, and the center will contact you to schedule an appointment.
Don’t have a doctor?
Call the Henry J. Austin Health Center in Trenton at 609-259-5900 to see if you need testing. They can help you to talk with a doctor by phone or video.
What if you don’t have health insurance? What do tests cost?
Henry J. Austin will serve all patients, including those without health insurance. There is no charge for the test at Mercer County testing sites.
Where do you get tested?
An appointment-only, walk-up test site will be open in Hightstown in the parking lot of St. Anthony of Padua Church, 156 Maxwell Ave., at 12 noon on Fridays beginning May 8. Mercer County offers appointment-only, drive-up testing every weekday at Quaker Bridge Mall in Lawrence, and appointment-only, pop-up testing sites in Trenton for individuals who lack transportation to the mall location. The Trenton sites are open in each city ward one day a week. Everyone needing a test will be sent to a site. County residents with access to a car will be sent to the drive-through site at Quaker Bridge Mall.
Why do you need a doctor’s order?
Talking with a doctor will provide needed health information and help you understand what to do based on your test results. Mercer County is relying on doctors to decide who needs to be tested.
Questions?
If you have questions about the testing process, call 609-337-4081 Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Español, call 609-436-5038 Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
HAVE GENERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT COVID-19?
The NJ Poison Control Center and 211 have partnered with the State to provide information to the public on COVID-19:
Call: 2-1-1
Call (24/7): 1-800-962-1253
Text: NJCOVID to 898-211
Visit covid19.nj.gov or nj.gov/health for additional information
PREVENTION
To ensure the lowest chance of obtaining the virus, and spreading the virus to others:
- Practice social distancing.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after you have been in a public place or after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
- Avoid touching your nose, eyes and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when you have to go out in public; for example, to the grocery store or to pick up other necessities. Do not use a facemask meant for a health care worker. The cloth face cover is not a substitute for social distancing.
- If you are in a private setting and do not have on your cloth face covering, remember to always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, or use the inside of your elbow. Throw used tissues in the trash and wash your hands or clean them with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces
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SYMPTOMS
Symptoms can appear between 2-14 days after exposure, though some people may not have any symptoms while still being contagious. It's also important to consider whether you've been in contact with an infected person, as well as any symptoms you may be experiencing. In addition to fever, cough and shortness of breath, symptoms can include chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat and new loss of taste or smell.
If you believe you've been infected and you are not in immediate danger, you should contact your doctor by phone. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911, and notify the dispatch personnel that you may have COVID-19.
COVID-19 Symptom Checker.
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COPING WITH STRESS
If you’re feeling stressed, anxious or depressed due to COVID-19, please call New Jersey's MentalHealthCares Helpline at 866-202-HELP (4357) or visit njmentalhealthcares.org for emotional support, guidance, and mental health referrals as needed. You also may call the SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 (TTY 1-800-846-8517).
BUSINESS ASSISTANCE
For information on COVID-19/Novel Coronavirus and its impact on businesses – including resources, assistance and regulations -- visit the State of New Jersey business portal and the Mercer County Office of Economic Development.
CENSUS 2020
It’s not too late to complete your 2020 Census form! It's safe and easy, and it’s your opportunity to bring education, health care, housing and political power to your community.
People across America are keeping their families and communities safe and healthy by staying home, or serving the public by providing essential services. Responding to the Census yourself — is another way to do your part and help keep your community strong.
If the paper form you received in the mail doesn’t work for you, you can respond online or by phone. There are so many ways to count yourself in the 2020 Census -- don’t wait! To respond online, visit https://my2020census.gov/login; to respond by phone, call 844-330-2020 (English) or 844-468-2020 (Spanish).
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JOBS AND HIRING
Did you lose your job or have your hours reduced as a result of COVID-19? Businesses across New Jersey need thousands of workers for immediate hire. Learn more about who is hiring in your community at jobs.covid19.nj.gov. The New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce Development has prepared a frequently asked questions document for workers affected by the coronavirus emergency.
CONSUMER COMPLAINTS
If you receive a call from a scammer or suspect price gouging, please report it to the Division of Consumer Affairs at (973) 504-6240 or https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/.
CURRENT STATUS
The New Jersey Department of Health on May 5 announced 2,494 new positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of positive cases in the state to 130,593 with 8,244 deaths. The most positive cases are in Bergen County, which has 16,460; Mercer County has 4,743, with 280 deaths. To view Mercer County data by municipality, please visit the Mercer County COVID-19 Dashboard at https://arcg.is/1y1eHO. Please note that municipal data lags behind the state data and will update as information becomes available. Visit the New Jersey Department of Health's COVID-19 Dashboard for more statewide information.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on May 5 announced 19,138 new positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of positive cases in the United States to 1,171,510 with 68,279 deaths, with 55 locations (50 states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, North Mariana Islands and U.S. Virgin Islands) reporting cases. For more information, visit cdc.gov.
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