Ahead of Easter Sunday and returning to indoor worship, three new COVID-19 testing sites are coming to Black churches across San Diego.
That’s thanks to the partnership between the county health department and two community groups: The Tabernacle Community Development Corporation and the African American Community Empowerment Council.
Pastor Judi Wortham is Tabernacle Development’s southern California director for the COVID-19 Testing Program. She says the Black community may be nervous to get tested, but these walkup testing sites welcome all.
“No need to make an appointment,” Wortham declared, “No need to have health insurance. No need to be afraid to get tested at the one place trusted by African-Americans, our Black churches.”
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Church leaders say Black churches are well-positioned to inform the community about the importance of COVID-19 testing and to provide a known, safe space for accessing testing.
Bishop William A. Benson of the Total Deliverance Worship Center is grateful the church is seen as a valuable partner in fighting against COVID-19.
“We have joined with such a marvelous group of professional individuals who are teaching us to rid the paranoias of fear of Doctors and procedures,” Benson said.
Community-based testing remains a core strategy to reducing virus transmission and mortality.
Along with the Total Deliverance Worship Center, the Bethel AME Church and the Bayview Baptist Church are also offering free COVID testing.
The program goal is to test 150 individuals daily at each location through June 30th.
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