Before arriving at the testing center for Covid-19, Martha Sánchez and Ginger López, official representatives of the Testing and Tracking Brigade, toured 34 avenue to encourage residents to take this medical test.
Martha Sánchez herself talks about the importance of her work: “Bringing information to the community that it is very important to get tested whether they feel symptoms or do not have symptoms.”
Martha and Ginger are part of Test & Trace, the health initiative led by the city’s public hospital system to combat the coronavirus.
Jackson Heights is now a yellow zone, with more than 3% in positive cases, according to the latest figures.
Fears of a second wave of contagion, in the one that was the epicenter of the pandemic in spring, is growing in the neighborhood.
Ginger López comments on this: “Yes, there is fear, but nothing is impossible. We have to be here giving it hard in our community. Informing them of the resources that the city of New York is giving right now.”
The four mobile units for these medical tests were installed in various parks in Queens.
Among the neighbors who convinced to take the test is Segundo Rea.
This Jackson Heights resident is a taxi driver and decided to get tested for the second time this year.
“You have to be very careful. I have come to take the test because I work in a taxi, so I have to take precautions for myself, for my clients,” explains Rea.
The wait for the nasal test did not exceed 15 minutes and he was the last patient seen this Friday due to the rain.
“It’s important to get tested for your own good,” Rea said.
Martha and Ginger will continue to provide free information and protective materials to Queens residents to fight the spread of the virus.
Visit the NY1 News page with our special coverage on the coronavirus: Coronavirus outbreak
– .
