Coronavirus testing site opens in Lincoln Heights
LINCOLN HEIGHTS, Ohio (WKRC) - The coronavirus is hitting minority communities hard. That's no secret to Dr. Mary Weatherington and Dolores Lindsay with the Healthcare Connection.
“Why there is a disparity is because, clearly, clearly without a doubt, racism is a public health crisis,” said Lindsay, founder and CEO of Healthcare Connect.
Lindsay has been battling that crisis for decades. Now, she's helping take on the coronavirus with a pop-up testing site in Lincoln Heights.
“We looked around our area and the closest place might be Norwood, might be Fairfield, might be University, so we thought, let's bring it home,” said Weatherington.
Weatherington says you have to meet people where they are. So far, she's seen patients by the carloads.
“We’ve had local employers send their whole crew, and that's actually what we're seeing a repeat phenomenon where the boss has said, 'You guys all get tested,' and then they feel comfortable working together,” said Weatherington.
Both Weatherington and Lindsay say testing has been consistent, but they also say testing isn't enough.
“We provide some education, a face mask, hand sanitizer, just to kind of remind everybody,” said Weatherington.
Moving forward, Lindsay says there must be political will and consistent messaging to help defeat the virus and other health disparities.
“I feel like because I’ve been on this battlefield for over 50 years, I have seen some progress. There is yet more needed, but I have seen the progress,” said Lindsay.
The pop-up testing happens every Sunday from 2-5 p.m. at the Lincoln Heights Health Center at 1401 Steffen Ave. The Healthcare Connection will also open a testing site in Mount Healthy in August.
