.@Marion_Health announces #COVID19 testing next week for people showing symptoms or in high risk groups, with focus on minority neighborhoods. African-Americans in Indy have been diagnosed at 3x the rate of white residents and have 2x the death rate.
Director Virginia Caine says she hopes to expand from one testing site to four and conduct 3,000 tests a week. She says the department has been trying to line up tests for weeks.
1st testing site will be at @EasternStarIndy in Arlington Woods neighborhood, which Caine says has the county's highest #coronavirus rate.
Pastor Jeffrey Johnson notes @IndyGoBus has a stop right in front of the church. Testing site will have both drive-thru and walkup testing.
Indy's #coronavirus racial disparities are reflected statewide and nationwide. African-Americans account for 1/6 of state cases and deaths, but are 1/10 of Indiana's population.
Caine: county has contracted with @IU_Health for the necessary testing supplies. Testing will begin next Thursday.
Caine: Indy wasn't able to get its first test kit until 2 weeks ago, because tests were being distributed by CDC, and they were prioritizing hottest #coronavirus hotspots (Calif., NYC, Detroit). She says other tests have been available through vendors but results take 5-7 days.
Caine says Indy's highest #coronavirus infection rate is in the eastside 46218 zip code, bounded by 16th and 38th Sts on the north and south, and Andrew J. Brown and Arlington Avenues on the east and west.
Caine: we hope to eventually be able to test people without symptoms. For now, limited to those with symptoms, people in risk groups (elderly/underlying conditions), and food/restaurant workers.
.@IndyMayorJoe: no decision yet on ending Indy's #coronaviruslockdown order, which like the state order expires next Friday. But he says it would be "extraordinarily dangerous" to make the mistake of reopening too quickly.
Hogsett says he's talked with businesses who agree it's important not to act prematurely. "As disruptive as these restrictions have been, we know that they are working."
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