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A WGVU initiative in partnership with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation using on-air programs and community events to explore issues of inclusion and equity.

Kent County Health Departments opens COVID-19 walk-thru testing sites

Kent County Health Department

According to data from the Kent County Health Department, those living the 49508 and 49509 zip codes are being infected with COVID-19 at the higher rates than any other zipcode in the county.

“We were seeing that there are pockets within the Kent County area that were showing higher rates of positive cases and so our goal was to find sites within those areas or as close to those areas that we could offer testing to those communities.” 

That’s Christopher Bendekgey, the Community Clinical Services Director for the Kent County Health Department. He says the Health Department has opened two walk through sites in the 49508 and 49509 zip codes at Potter’s House Christian School and Baxter Community Center.

“Point of entry to point of exit you are in and out in about five minutes, especially if you have pre-registered, so if they come in pre-registered we are just verifying their information, testing them and they are walking out the door quite honestly in less than five minutes.” 

Bendekgey explains these areas are experiencing higher rates of COVID-19 because many of those living in these zip codes are doubling up in single family homes due to a lack of affordable housing, they also have a lack of reliable transportation and are uninsured or underinsured. 

The testing is available at no cost for those six months and older, and no insurance or identification is needed to receive it. To pre-register for testing you can visit the Kent County Health Department website. 

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