Jefferson Health New Jersey, the Camden County Freeholder Board, and the Camden County Health Department have collaborated to open a new drive-up coronavirus (COVID-19) testing site on the Blackwood campus of Camden County College, beginning Wednesday, April 15.
This site will make first responders, healthcare workers and other front-line, essential personnel who have been working throughout the pandemic a priority.
“We are proud to work with one of our outstanding regional health systems, Jefferson, to open this new COVID-19 testing site to serve the needs of first responders, essential workers and the citizens of Camden County,” said Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli, Jr.
“As the entire country and state continues to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak, it is important that those on the front lines and county residents have access and opportunity to testing. This initiative combined with social distancing and other mitigation factors will help us break the back of this virus.”
The testing site will be set up at Camden County College’s Gloucester Township campus directly adjacent to Peter Cheeseman Road, will be open Monday through Friday, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. This secure area will allow for an easy, seamless drive thru that residents can get in and out of and will have a reserved space for anyone who chooses to walk up to the clinic.
Prospective patients must have an appointment which can be made at (844) 542-2273, an appointment must be made even if a resident has already obtained a script.
U.S. Congressman Donald Norcross thanked the Board and Jefferson Health for their dedication to the people of Camden County.
“South Jersey health care providers and essential personnel from all walks of life are working around the clock to keep residents healthy and safe, and I thank Jefferson for joining with Camden County to open this new COVID-19 testing site to support them as they’re supporting us,” Norcross said.
“To all those on the front lines working on behalf of our community, we’re here for you and we thank you.”
The testing site is open to county residents, by appointment only, who have symptoms and meet other criteria, and who have received a referral for testing from a medical provider or primary care physician (at Jefferson, CAMcare Health Corporation or another provider). Other individuals receiving priority treatment are from Governor Phil Murphy’s Executive Order 104, that are employees from grocery/food stores, pharmacies, medical supply stores, gas stations, healthcare facilities, and ancillary stores within healthcare facilities, supply chain drivers, utility employees and civil servants.
“Jefferson is committed to improving the lives of our community members,” said Brian Sweeney, interim president, Jefferson Health New Jersey.
“By partnering with the Camden County Freeholders to open and provide clinical support for this new drive-through COVID-19 testing site, we can make a direct impact in the lives of front-line workers in this battle against coronavirus. By taking care of those who are taking care of others, our healthcare organization will help ‘flatten the curve’ of infection.”
Jefferson Health New Jersey currently has two drive-through testing sites, in Washington Township and in Cherry Hill. For more information, visit: https://newjersey.jeffersonhealth.org.
Gloucester Township Mayor, David Mayer talked about the importance of testing and the benefit to giving essential employees preference.
“Expanding testing and making first responders and essential workers a priority is ideal and an overall asset for Gloucester Township and Camden County. Moving forward this data will be important to how we fight this insidious virus and assist us in breaking its back as we continue to follow state guidelines to stay at home,” Mayer said.
