The Township of North Bergen is opening three new COVID-19 testing sites where residents can be tested with no out-of-pocket cost, regardless of insurance status.
Mayor Nicholas Sacco and his administration have entered into partnerships with private medical facilities to operate the sites, which will reduce costs for the township and streamline operations.
Combined with sites that already available to North Bergen residents, the township will now offer up to 1,000 tests per day, significantly increasing its testing capacity.
“Our team has been working diligently for weeks to establish these testing sites, and we are confident that we will now be able to ensure that all North Bergen residents have access to free COVID-19 testing,” said Sacco. “Increasing our testing capacity will allow us to proactively identify residents who test positive so they can self-isolate, and also provide peace of mind to those who may have recovered from the illness but were never tested. This will help us reduce the number of new infections and save lives.”
The three new sites will all operate by appointment only and are available to North Bergen residents with proof of residency. Testing began on June 8.
To schedule a test, residents must call or text first to set up a telemedicine appointment to determine the appropriate test based on their symptoms, recent contacts, and other factors. The new sites are downtown, at the waterfront and Uptown.
Free COVID-19 testing
The Downtown Testing Site, a mobile site, is offered in partnership with Diligent Medical Care. It is at the Kennedy School, 1210 11th Street in North Bergen.
To schedule a test, text COVID to: (973) 447-3559. Tests offered are the COVID-19 Nasal Swab and the Serology Antibody Test.
The Waterfront Testing Site is offered in partnership with Hackensack Meridian Palisades Medical Center and is located at 7600 River Road in North Bergen.
To schedule a test call (201) 295-4181 from Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Tests included are the COVID-19 Nasal Swab and the Serology Antibody Test.
The Uptown Testing Site is offered in partnership with the AM/PM Walk-in Urgent Care Center at 7405 Bergenline Ave. in North Bergen.
To schedule a test call (201) 636-6763, seven days a week from 8 a.m. until 11 p.m. Serology Antibody Test available only.
Expanding testing
Opening the three new testing sites builds on North Bergen’s systematic testing protocol, which has been continually expanding over the last several weeks.
The program began by testing first responders and township employees who interact with the public, followed by residents of the township’s three long term care facilities, and then residents of the North Bergen Housing Authority’s senior buildings. Now the township will expand to the general public.
The testing sites already in operation, open to North Bergen residents, will continue to be available.
The Walmart Testing Site is open at 2100 88th St. in North Bergen. To schedule a test, go to http://myquestcovidtest.com/. Tests offered include a self-administered COVID-19 Nasal Swab. Test capacity is limited.
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