Mobile COVID-19 testing van helps Long Islanders in remote communities

For many residents on the East End of Long Island who have been hit hard by the pandemic, getting tested for COVID-19 hasn't been easy. Many who live there don't have access to public transportation.

News 12 Staff

Dec 28, 2020, 11:08 PM

Updated 1,355 days ago

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A mobile COVID-19 testing van has brought an important resource that some Long Islanders didn’t have access to.
For many residents on the East End of Long Island who have been hit hard by the pandemic, getting tested for COVID-19 hasn't been easy. Many who live there don't have access to public transportation.
However, many residents were able to get a free COVID-19 test by appointment without waiting on line Monday.
"Public transportation is a very difficult thing, especially out in Suffolk County where there are remote areas that don't even have public transportation," says Minerva Perez, the executive director OLA of Eastern Long Island. "Specifically, in the Springs area where a lot of folks, Latino and non, have a harder time getting out of the area for lack of transportation, lack of means. So, we partnered with the county, the county exec's office and worked to get this amazing van...from Advanced Cardio."
The van is owned by Dr. Perry Frankel, a cardiologist who has been using it for COVID-19 testing since March. His business works with county executives to schedule testing in communities.
"We have a schedule for a month or two…say we're doing it with Minerva and Steve Bellone, we send them a flyer which they send out. There's a link on the flyer to book the appointment, you get a scheduled appointment," Frankel says.
Springs resident Gene Moore drove by, signed up and got a COVID-19 test all on Monday. He says he is thankful someone brought the test to him so he didn't have to go to the test.
"I didn't know where to go…I know there's a City MD, but I also know there are huge lines," Moore says. "This is really important and convenient."