Gottheimer Asks FEMA to Add Coronavirus Testing Site for Warren County, Sussex County Residents

NEWTON, NJ – On April 5, 2020, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) requested that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) establish an additional drive-through COVID-19 testing site to serve the residents of Warren and Sussex Counties, New Jersey.

The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) has reported that the pandemic has not yet peaked in New Jersey and is expected to worsen in the coming weeks.

New Jersey already has the unfortunate ranking of the second largest outbreak by total number of cases — second only to New York.

The number of positive cases in Warren and Sussex Counties has steadily increased in the past days and weeks, but without a drive-through testing site, these Counties are at higher risk for these numbers to increase.

“Accurate detection and containment of the Coronavirus is our best chance to flatten the curve and reduce the spread of this virus. Therefore, I strongly urge you to support a new drive-through testing center in Warren and Sussex Counties until the peak of infections has begun its decline,” Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) wrote in a letter to FEMA Administrator Peter Gaynor today. “As we have heard consistently from local medical professionals, the current lack of testing options in these Counties is likely leading to a large undercount of the population that may have contracted Coronavirus (COVID-19).  Testing is key to treatment and to flattening the curve.”

It is vital that everyone in North Jersey continues to take the proper precautions to combat the spread of the coronavirus, including self-quarantine and social distancing.

The Honorable Peter T. Gaynor

Administrator

Federal Emergency Management Agency

500 C Street SW

Washington, DC 20472

Dear Administrator Gaynor:

I write today to urge the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to establish a drive-through testing site to serve the residents of Warren and Sussex Counties, New Jersey. This site could serve as a critical part of our plan to contain the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in New Jersey and ensure that all who have contracted the virus get the care that they need.

New Jersey’s Department of Health has reported that the pandemic has not yet peaked and is expected to worsen in the coming weeks.  Our state already has the unfortunate ranking of the second largest outbreak by total number of cases—second only to our closest neighbors to the north, New York.  The number of positive cases in Warren and Sussex Counties has steadily increased in the past days and weeks, but without a drive-through testing site, we are at higher risk for these numbers to increase. Additionally, as we have heard consistently from local medical professionals, the current lack of testing options in these Counties is likely leading to a large undercount of the population that may have contracted Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Accurate detection and containment of the Coronavirus is our best chance to flatten the curve and reduce the spread of this virus. Therefore, I strongly urge you to support a new drive-through testing center in Warren and Sussex Counties until the peak of infections has begun its decline.

I appreciate your prompt attention to this matter and look forward to continuing to work with you.

Sincerely,

Josh Gottheimer

MEMBER OF CONGRESS

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