Southfield Oakland County and 15 churches have partnered to expand and provide free COVID-19 drive-thru testing in Southfield and Pontiac, county Executive Dave Coulter announced.<\/p>\n
Beginning Monday, the county health division will work with McLaren Oakland in Pontiac and Ascension Providence Hospital-Novi Campus at 14 locations.<\/p>\n
The impact of COVID-19 on our communities of color has shined a bright light of race disparities in access to health care,Coulter said at a press conferenceat the Christian Tabernacle Church in Southfield. It is unacceptable and we are responding by taking testing directly to at-risk individuals which will give us the ability to track and mitigate a reemergence of the virus.<\/p>\n
Through Wednesday, Oakland County has confirmed 11,384 total cases county wide and 1,020 COVID-19 related deaths. There have been 7,246 Oakland County residents who have recovered from the virus during the pandemic, data shows..<\/p>\n
Coulter expressed gratitude towardpastors, several joininghim at the afternoon press conference, helping to get the word out about the importance of testing.<\/p>\n
It is vital that health care is available and accessible to all residents throughout Oakland County, Coulter said. I am grateful to Ascension and McLaren for their support.<\/p>\n
Free drive-thru testing requires preregistration at http:\/\/www.oakgov.com\/covid\/testing<\/a>. Results are expected to be returned in48 to 72 hours.<\/p>\n The program is supported by the Oakland County Board of Commissioners, Coulter said.<\/p>\n African-Americans represent 33 percent of total COVID-19 cases across the county and 36.2 percent of its fatalities, according to county data.<\/p>\n The county health division and Honor Community Health continue to offer drive-thru testing in the county complex, 1200 N. Telegraph in Pontiac, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday. Testing is also available at the Health Divisions Southfield office at 27725 Greenfield on Monday and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Friday at the Novi Civic Center parking lot, 45175 W. 10 Mile.<\/p>\n Preregistration is available by calling 1-800-848-5533.<\/p>\n New test sites and times announced Thursday:<\/p>\n In Pontiac New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, 174 Branch, Monday from 8 a.m.-noon.;<\/p>\n New Birth International Church, 124 W. Columbia,1-4 p.m. Monday; Shiloh Baptist Church, 474 University Dr., 8 a.m.-noon Tuesday; Prospect Missionary Baptist Church and Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, 351 Prospect St. Tuesday1-4 p.m.; Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church, 404 Cesar Chavez, Wednesday 1-4 p.m.; and Welcome Missionary Baptist Church, 143 Oneida, Wednesday; New Mount Moriah International Missionary Baptist Church, 313 E. Walton, June 25 8 a.m.-noon; Trinity Missionary Baptist Church 112-123 Wessen St., June 25, 1-4 p.m.<\/p>\n In Southfield:<\/p>\n Hope United Methodist, 26275 Northwestern Highway, June 26, 8 a.m.-noon; First Baptist Church, 21200 Southfield Road, Friday, 1-4 p.m.; New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, 23455 W. NineMile, June 29 1-4 p.m.; Triumph Church North Campus, 15600 J.L. Hudson Dr., June 30 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; Christian Tabernacle, 26555 Franklin, July 1 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; Empowerment Church 24300 Southfield Road, Thursday,9 a.m. to 3 p.m.<\/p>\n mmartindale@detroitnews.com<\/a><\/p>\n (248) 338-0319 <\/p>\n Read or Share this story: https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/story\/news\/local\/oakland-county\/2020\/06\/18\/oakland-co-expands-covid-19-testing-14-faith-based-locations-starting-monday\/3214713001\/<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Read the rest here: <\/p>\n Oakland Co. expands COVID-19 testing to 14 faith-based locations starting Monday - The Detroit News<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Southfield Oakland County and 15 churches have partnered to expand and provide free COVID-19 drive-thru testing in Southfield and Pontiac, county Executive Dave Coulter announced. Beginning Monday, the county health division will work with McLaren Oakland in Pontiac and Ascension Providence Hospital-Novi Campus at 14 locations. The impact of COVID-19 on our communities of color has shined a bright light of race disparities in access to health care,Coulter said at a press conferenceat the Christian Tabernacle Church in Southfield Continue reading