City of Lawrence launches new mobile COVID-19 testing initiative

LAWRENCE, Mass. — Lawrence city officials announced a new COVID-19 testing initiative Tuesday morning.

Mayor Daniel Rivera, Lawrence City Council President Kendrys Vasquez, and Deb Wilson, the president of Lawrence General Hospital, held a press conference to announce the plan at the Merrimack Court Housing Development on Melvin Street at 11:30 a.m.

Lawrence has consistently been in the highest-risk category for COVID-19 with an average daily incidence rate of 25.4 cases per 100,000 people – the second-highest rate in the state only behind North Andover.

The city has lost 143 residents to COVID-19.

Most of the city’s residents are packed in tight.

Mayor Dan Rivera says that’s part of the reason the city has been unable to escape the red-zone of high COVID-19 infection rates.

“You think about 6.7 square miles 85-thousand people on the books – 3-5 thousand other people that are undocumented, there’s not a lot of places where people can live so they are living on top of each other,” said Mayor Daniel Rivera, City of Lawrence.

It’s been a challenge for doctors at Lawrence at General hospital throughout the pandemic.

“In a city like Lawrence were we have a large amount of people that are socially disadvantaged – the by virtue of their upbringing or living conditions are more susceptible to acquiring this virus – it is critical that we take the leader,” said Dr. Eduardo Haddad, Lawrence General Hospital.

So the city is getting in the driver’s seat.

Literally, taking testing to neighborhoods across Lawrence.

“I’m proud to announce today that the city of Lawrence for a small fee of 255 thousand dollars has purchased a brand-new mobile health unit that will be powered by Lawrence general hospital,” said Mayor Daniel Rivera, City of Lawrence.

It started on Tuesday when the mayor himself got a COVID 19 test and is part of a million-dollar initiative dedicated to testing in the city.

It’s money the mayor said he had to spend.

“The idea that we would have money on the sidelines is just foolish,” said Mayor Rivera.

The mobile unit will provide free testing – including those who are undocumented.

The goal is to eventually have it out 7 days a week.

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