CITY OF NEWARK TO CONTINUE TESTING HOMELESS POPULATION FOR CORONAVIRUS

Newark, NJ – May 8, 2020— The City of Newark will continue testing its homeless population for COVID-19, on Monday, May 11, at 11:00 a.m., in the downtown YMCA parking lot (and if rain, inside the gym). The YMCA is located at 600 Broad Street. Newark’s program to mass test residents without addresses is the first program of its kind in the state and perhaps the nation.

Sheltering Newark’s residents without addresses is part of Mayor Ras J. Baraka’s $1 million investment in rapid, short-term housing for Newark’s most vulnerable residents. That initiative was designed to get residents without permanent addresses in safe quarters to help slow the person-to-person COVID-19 spread among those living outdoors and the people with whom they come in contact. Testing residents without addresses is equally important.

WHO:            Dr. Mark Wade, Director of Newark’s Health and Community Wellness Department

WHAT:          Testing of up 475 residents without addresses.

WHEN:          Monday, May 11

11:00 a.m.

WHERE:       Newark Central Branch YMCA

600 Broad Street

Newark