VNA Certified Medical Assistant Ali Robles provides a COVID-19 test kit to a local resident at the Red Bank Family YMCA. (Photo by Joshua Reed. Click to enlarge.)
[Press release from the YMCA of Greater Monmouth County]
YMCA of Greater Monmouth County has joined forces with the Visiting Nurse Association of Central New Jersey’s Community Health Centers (VNACJ CHC) to offer COVID-19 testing at the Red Bank Family YMCA.
VNACJ CHC is now staffing drive-thru and walk-up, saliva-based testing at the Y for area residents concerned they may have been exposed to the coronavirus.
Governor Phil Murphy and state health officials say increased and continued broad-based testing will help identify those who have been infected, help them get necessary treatment, and slow the spread of the virus.
“Local testing at the YMCA is another way our organization has solidified its commitment to serve the community during this pandemic, and we have partnered with the VNACJ Community Health Centers to provide area residents with convenient access to COVID-19 testing,” said Y President and CEO Laurie Goganzer.
Since the crisis started, the Y has offered emergency child care to essential workers, blood drives, food collection and distribution, as well as mental health services for children and adults throughout the pandemic.
Goganzer said the testing is another example of the “Y’s commitment to address the community’s critical needs during this uncharted and unparalleled public health crisis.”
CEO of VNACJ CHC Christopher Rinn said, “we are pleased to work with the YMCA to offer this essential testing to residents of the Greater Monmouth County area.”
Rinn noted that the saliva tests are less intrusive than the deep nasal swab tests that have been widely used since the coronavirus pandemic broke out. “They are safer for healthcare workers administering the procedure and they require less personal protective equipment than the deep nasal swab,” he added.
Red Bank Mayor Pasquale Menna said the borough of Red Bank “is grateful that our local Y and the VNA have teamed up to provide easy access to COVID-19 testing for our residents and those in neighboring towns.”
Residents interested in being tested at the Red Bank Family YMCA should call VNACJ CHC at 732.294.2540 for a telehealth screening or go to the website vnachc.org/contact-us to determine if they qualify for testing.
The test site at the Red Bank Y, located at 166 Maple Ave., is open by appointment only from 1 to 4 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Patients can drive through and will be given a kit through their car window. Walkers will be asked to sit on a bench outside of the Y. The testing takes approximately 15 minutes.
Results will be provided 2-3 days after the saliva screening.
Fees for the COVID-19 testing are on a sliding scale and/or based upon the individual’s health insurance coverage.
As of June 15, New Jersey has more than 166,000 positive cases reported, and 12,625 deaths from the coronavirus.
