Philadelphia Black Doctor's COVID-19 Consortium keeping up with testing as cases climb
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- The Philadelphia Department of Public Health announced 879 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday as many lined up to get tested in the city.
Lennox Wilson of Norristown, Pennsylvania came to a free testing site in West Philadelphia run by the Black Doctors COVID Consortium after a family member came in contact with someone who was positive.
"When we heard she was in the chain, we decided we needed to be tested, too," said Wilson.
The line at the testing site spanned down the block, around the Saint Matthew A.M.E. Church.
"The African American and Latinx communities are still the ones hardest hit,'' said Dr. Ala Stanford, founder of the Black Doctors Covid Consortium. "I'm getting more and more calls of people who are positive and who've had exposure."
The citywide spread is happening mainly through social gatherings. Dr. Stanford said flu season doesn't help either, which is why they're also offering the flu shot.
"Those two together can be lethal," said Dr. Stanford.
The city has not put any new restrictions in place, only pausing in-person learning.
RELATED: Philadelphia considers possible COVID-19 restrictions due to rapidly increasing case count
Tianda Smart is a Mitchell Elementary School teacher who wanted the opportunity to get tested.
"It's just important to make sure that you've done your part to know that you are doing your best to remain safe and check your status," said Smart.
"The experts said the numbers were going to increase in the fall. It's not easy to have access to this type of testing, especially in our communities," said Lynne Dudley from her car.
Doctors at the testing event reiterated what the city said earlier in the day: the reason why we are seeing more cases is not because more testing is available, it's due to people taking part in more social gatherings.
