BOSTON — Jessica Johnson has been careful during the pandemic.
“There have been worries about asymptomatic issues, so I’d like to know,” said Johnson of Jamaica Plain.
She was among dozens who registered online or did so in-person at a new pop-up testing site set up in the parking lot of Roxbury’s Washington Park Mall.
City residents who are symptomatic or asymptomatic for COVID-19 are encouraged to register and be tested on-site. Organizers say it takes 4-5 days to get test results.
TODAY - Pop up testing in #Roxbury , public health workers prep for busy day. It’s free, open 12-7.Those who took part in large gatherings encouraged to be tested though it’s open to city residents in general. Continues tmw, same hrs. Washington Park Mall. 330 MLK Blvd @boston25 pic.twitter.com/tno56LZaxi
— Evan White (@EvanWhiteIII) June 10, 2020
“We wanted to make a testing site that was really accessible, low barrier, low bar, to get in,” said Marty Martinez.
The city partnered with the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center for the pop-up testing site.
Those who’ve been involved with massive protests in recent weeks were urged to visit the new site for testing, so far data has not shown a spike according to Martinez.
“We would expect to see something now, shortly, right, not only cases but people might start developing symptoms,” Martinez explained.
“With thousands of people having marched and rallied over the course of the past 10 days, we want to make sure when people are doing that they have an opportunity to be safe not only for themselves but for others.” Marty Martinez, Chief Boston HHS #covid19 #testing @boston25 pic.twitter.com/r6ekaf6deI
— Evan White (@EvanWhiteIII) June 10, 2020
Boston remains one of the hot spots for COVID-19 with a positive test rate of 19.86 percent, according to state data from June 10.
While added testing is welcome, Louis Elisa of the Garrison Trotter Neighborhood Association Inc., said it has taken far too long to get it.
“When they say ‘Black Lives Matter,’ this can't be an ad hoc concept,” Elisa said.
>> More: Where to get tested for COVID-19 in Massachusetts
Martinez says there has been a lot of testing in Roxbury, and 60% of those tested for COVID-19 in Boston are people of color.
The city began putting together plans for this pop-up site on Monday, said Martinez. It runs, again Thursday 12 p.m. – 7 p.m. and is free.
When asked if latest data shows any link between protesters and new cases, Martinez responded: "not yet, we're not seeing anything that would cause alarm, but we wouldn't be surprised if we did." Says last large rally, 9 days ago, people would start showing symptoms now @boston25 https://t.co/0qQWAXcYYL
— Evan White (@EvanWhiteIII) June 10, 2020
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