FITZPATRICK CALLS FOR EXPANDED COVID TESTING IN ATLANTIC COUNTY

(LINWOOD) Atlantic County Freeholder Caren Fitzpatrick today called on Atlantic County government to expand its testing for COVID-19 to include asymptomatic individuals as well as workers and inmates at the county jail.

“The social distancing efforts of Atlantic County residents have kept our infection rate down, which gives us the capacity to test more residents for COVID-19,” said Fitzpatrick. “Now that the curve has been flattened, county government needs to expand its testing population so that more businesses can reopen.”

Currently, members of the public wishing to be tested for COVID-19 by the county must be symptomatic and have a doctor’s prescription. Fitzpatrick is calling on county government to remove these requirements while still prioritizing symptomatic residents as well as first responders and front-line workers.

“The Press of Atlantic City reported that there is no universal testing for inmates at the county jail, which puts inmates and workers at risk. We need to expand testing at the jail now that we have the additional capacity to do so.”

Finally, Fitzpatrick is encouraging the county to partner with pharmacies like CVS to expand its testing capacity beyond county government test sites. Starting this week, the CVS locations in Brigantine and Pleasantville will offer tests to asymptomatic individuals without requiring a prescription.