Published October 01. 2020 12:00PM
By LOU WHEELAND
Special to The Press
CATE, Community-Accessible Testing and Education mobile unit, the first of its type in the country, performed COVID-19 testing and education to area residents during its stop Sept. 14 and 15 at the Allentown YMCA.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health, under Dr. Rachel Levine, the Latino Connection and Highmark Blue Shield created the COVID-19 mobile testing unit to provide testing in minority and underserved communities throughout the commonwealth.
By providing the mobile service unit, residents can be reached where they live.
The mobile unit’s tagline is: “Sharing knowledge to erase fear,” as so many individuals are reluctant to be tested.
With support from the professionals operating the service, residents can be assured that their testing is being done with both discretion and the compassion needed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Locally, physicians from the Star Wellness, a St. Luke’s Health Network affiliate, performed testing during the unit’s stop at the Allentown YMCA.
Employees and volunteers with CATE provided testing equipment and a gift bag containing important information regarding the testing as well as hand sanitizer and face masks.
Press Photos by LOU WHEELAND George Fernandez with the Latino Connection, Harrisburg, displays the information and supplies contained in gift bags offered to residents who stopped at the CATE Mobile Unit for COVID-19 testing during its stop Sept. 14 and 15 at the Allentown YMCA.
Julie Seifert of Allentown is tested by Star Wellness Physician Cynthia Weber MD.
Gabriel Morales, with the Latino Connection, prepares a chair for the next visitor to be tested for COVID-19 by physicians at the CATE Mobile Unit Sept. 14 at the Allentown YMCA.
The CATE Mobile Unit and coverings were set up at the Allentown YMCA back parking lot Sept. 14 and 15 to provide COVID-19 testing to minority and underserved residents of Allentown.
Gerard Jameson drove over from Phillipsburg, N.J., to be tested for COVID-19 at the CATE Mobile Unit's stop at the Allentown YMCA.
