During a special Town Board meeting, Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin, Senior Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby, Councilman Bruce Blakeman, Councilman Anthony D’Esposito, Councilman Dennis Dunne Sr., Councilman Tom Muscarella and Councilman Chris Carini unanimously approved a new initiative to be implemented by Mount Sinai South Nassau. This action by the Town Board provides $695,042 of CARES Act funding to Mount Sinai South Nassau to establish a COVID-19 testing and vaccination mobile unit for Town residents.
This new program stems from the success of a previously approved grant to Mount Sinai South Nassau which established a drive-thru testing center to help contain the spread of the virus by testing residents from the safety of their vehicles and reducing person-to-person contact. This program tested 1,733 residents from December 5. 2020 to January 23, 2021.
“We’re proud to be once again team up with Mount Sinai South Nassau to provide these essential COVID-19 related services to our residents,” said Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin. “We thank Senator Schumer for making the funding available to our town that has led to the creation of many programs to keep our residents safe.”
The mobile testing and vaccination unit is expected to be up and running within the next 60 days, serving all areas of Hempstead Town, focusing on those areas hardest hit by the pandemic. Further information will be posted on the Town of Hempstead website once the new program is fully operational. The drive-thru rapid testing program continues to be offered at no charge to Town of Hempstead residents, but are available by appointment only by calling 516-390-2888. The COVID-19 rapid tests are administered at Mount Sinai South Nassau’s Oceanside campus, at the Washington Avenue entrance.
“This mobile unit will allow us to bring COVID rapid testing and potentially vaccinations directly to communities within the Town of Hempstead, particularly areas that have been hard hit by the pandemic,” said Richard J. Murphy, President & CEO of Mount Sinai South Nassau. “We are very grateful to be partnering with the Town on this initiative. Supervisor Clavin, Councilman D’Esposito and the Town Board early on recognized the importance of testing to fight the spread of the virus. We appreciate their leadership and willingness to fund this important public health effort.”
“This pandemic is not over by any means, and we want to continue to help families have more options for free COVID-19 testing, and to prepare to expand access to vaccines, so we can help put an eventual end to this public health crisis,” Goosby said. “We’re proud to work with Mount Sinai South Nassau to provide this important service to help protect the health and safety of our residents during the pandemic,” Blakeman added.
“As a first responder, I know how critical of a role that Mount Sinai South Nassau has in our communities, fighting this pandemic on the front lines from Day 1, and we are proud to partner with them to provide a new mobile testing and vaccination unit for our communities,” D’Esposito said. “We still have a tough battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, and we will continue to provide essential services and helpful assistance to residents during this trying time,” Dunne said.
“We’re not out of the woods yet, in fact, the infection rates continue to remain way above where we want them to be, and it’s programs like this initiative with Mount Sinai South Nassau that will help us defeat this pandemic once and for all,” Muscarella said. “As a former police officer, I know firsthand how our healthcare heroes are saving lives each and every day, and it’s truly rewarding to know that we are working with Mount Sinai South Nassau to help fight this pandemic together,” Carini added.
Last year, the Town of Hempstead received $133 million federal CARES Act funding to use as economic relief grants to aid businesses, organizations and residents facing unbudgeted expenses caused by COVID-19. This funding line was set to expire on December 31, 2020. However, this grant has been extended into 2021, providing opportunities for the continuation of existing programs as well as new programs as needed.
“The pandemic certainly did not end when the calendar turned to 2021,” Clavin added. “In fact, providing additional free options for COVID-19 testing are as urgent as ever. Ultimately our goal is to expand this unit to enhance access to COVID-19 vaccines in our communities. Thank you to my Town Board colleagues and Mount Sinai South Nassau for this important initiative as we continue to combat the health and economic effects of the pandemic, and work to protect and assist the residents of America’s largest township.”
For more information on these testing programs, and the Town of Hempstead’s other COVID-19 initiatives and resources, visit hempsteadtownny.gov
Recent Comments