Test & Trace Corps Announces Faith-Based Partnership with St. Albans Church to Fight Covid-19
The City will launch its first faith-based partnership to expand COVID-19 testing in Queens while serving communities of color hardest hit by the pandemic
Sep 09, 2020
The Test & Trace Corps today announced the City’s first brick and mortar location within a house of worship. The City will partner with the Episcopal Church of St. Alban the Martyr to expand COVID-19 testing sites in Queens while serving communities of color hardest hit by the pandemic. The new testing location opens today and will be fully-operational for six months, with the capacity for up to 200 tests per day. As a part of the partnership, the City will continue to provide free, walk-in testing seven days a week, from 9am – 7pm. With schools re-opening, house of worship testing sites will offer an opportunity to bolster outreach to more communities and provide expanded testing capacity throughout the City. New Yorkers can visit more than 200 City-run testing sites across the five boroughs. To find the nearest testing site go to nyc.gov/covidtest or text “COVID TEST” to 855-48 for sites in the neighborhood.
Widespread testing remains our best defense against the virus,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “With over 200 sites across our city, we are bringing testing to the doorstep of every New Yorker, making it as fast and convenient as possible to keep yourself safe.”
“We are excited to partner with a place of worship to reach even more New Yorkers, said NYC Test and Trace Corps Executive Director Dr. Ted Long. “We know that both testing and tracing is the key to keeping New Yorkers safe and healthy, which is why we are doing everything we can to connect residents to get tested so they can protect themselves, their loved ones, and their community.”
“Healing the sick and soothing the suffering is a central tenet of the Christian Faith and through partnering with NYC Test & Trace Corps to provide space for free testing to our community is one way we live and activate this belief, said Father Keith Voets, Episcopal Church of St. Alban the Martyr. “We are immensely grateful for the opportunity to serve our community in this way as we continue to pray for relief from this unprecedented pandemic. As Christians we are called to live in a state of hope, and I find great hope in this partnership for New Yorkers.”
Beginning September 9th, diagnostic testing will be available at Episcopal Church of St. Alban the Martyr.
Episcopal Church of St. Alban the Martyr
116-42 Farmers Blvd, St. Albans, NY 11412
09:00 AM – 7:00 PM
The Test & Trace Corps is the City’s comprehensive effort to test, trace, and treat every case of COVID-19. Through a partnership with NYC Health + Hospitals and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the Corps allows the City to immediately isolate and care for those who test positive for the virus and then rapidly track, assess, and quarantine anyone they may have infected.