News Article from The Palm Beach Post
BOYNTON BEACH – An area that is one of Palm Beach County’s coronavirus hot spots opened a free testing site Monday and screened 43 people, five of whom were symptomatic, including the first two patients.
The free testing at St. John Missionary Baptist Church in east Boynton ran less than two hours Monday but will keep running for six weeks on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., said DeAnna Warren, CEO of nonprofit Genesis Community Health.
Warren said she learned local clergy were looking to help the situation, and in talks of opening a site at St. John, church officials told her, ”’Yes. For sure. We are definitely, one hundred, million times, behind you.”
Soon, the church, Genesis and nonprofit Pathways to Prosperity were coming together to open testing in the area.
Warren emphasized anyone can get tested at the site, not just Boynton residents.
Those who do get tests do not pay for them – a $75,000 grant from Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties and a $37,800 grant from Quantum Foundation cover the site’s staff pay, testing kits, personal protective equipment and other costs.
“I’m very hopeful that the community will come out and get this free testing,” Warren said. “The lack of testing is for a myriad of reasons, they don’t know where to go, or they have transportation issues … “why don’t you just take it to the people?”
Warren also pointed to “disparities in testing numbers … for the underserved and minority communities.”
She said people are curious if they have been exposed and this effort can quell their wondering.
Most people who sought tests Monday scheduled drive-up appointments; for others, the site caught their eyes, and they approached for a walk-up visit.
She said people are curious if they have been exposed and this effort can quell their wondering.
Most people who sought tests Monday scheduled drive-up appointments; for others, the site caught their eyes, and they approached for a walk-up visit.
Police Chief Michael Gregory last week asked that people who do book appointments abide by their scheduled times to keep operations smooth and traffic controlled.
“We have a lot of emergency vehicles,” he added. “We still have to get to other people who need our attention, our care.”