Town of Hempstead, Mount Sinai South Nassau in Oceanside announce mobile Covid-19 testing, vaccination unit

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The Town of Hempstead and Mount Sinai South Nassau have announced that the hospital will establish a Covid-19 testing and vaccination mobile unit for town residents using more than $695,000 in CARES Act funds.

This new program stems from the success of a previously approved grant to MSSN, which established a drive-thru testing center to help contain the spread of the virus by testing residents from their vehicles and reducing person-to-person contact. The program tested 1,733 residents from Dec. 5 through Jan. 23.

“We’re proud to be once again team up with Mount Sinai South Nassau to provide these essential Covid-19 related services to our residents,” Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin said, according to a news release. “We thank Senator [Charles] Schumer for making the funding available to our town that has led to the creation of many programs to keep our residents safe.”

The mobile testing and vaccination unit is expected to be up and running within the next 60 days, serving all areas of Hempstead, focusing on those areas hardest hit by the pandemic. Further information will be posted on the Town of Hempstead website once the new program is fully operational. The drive-thru rapid testing program continues to be offered at no charge to town residents, but are available by appointment only by calling (516) 390-2888. The Covid-19 rapid tests are administered at MSSN’s Oceanside campus, at the Washington Avenue entrance.

“This mobile unit will allow us to bring Covid rapid testing and potentially vaccinations directly to communities within the Town of Hempstead, particularly areas that have been hard hit by the pandemic,” MSSN President and CEO Richard J. Murphy said, according to the release, adding that the facility was proud to partner with the Town of Hempstead.

Last year, the Town of Hempstead received $133 million federal CARES Act funding to use as economic relief grants to aid businesses, organizations and residents facing unbudgeted expenses caused by Covid-19. The funding line was set to expire at the end of 2020, however, the grant has been extended into 2021, providing opportunities for the continuation of existing programs as well as new programs as needed. Part of the funds will now be used to help support the mobile testing site at MSSN.

“As a first responder, I know how critical of a role that Mount Sinai South Nassau has in our communities, fighting this pandemic on the front lines from Day 1,” Town Councilman Anthony D’Esposito said in the release, “and we are proud to partner with them to provide a new mobile testing and vaccination unit for our communities.”

For more information on these testing programs, and the Town of Hempstead’s other COVID-19 initiatives and resources, visit hempsteadtownny.gov.

Courtesy Town of Hempstead; compiled by Mike Smollins