The Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) has turned to its local health centers to make the biggest impact on communities that have been disproportionately affected by Covid-19. Due to the significant increase in active Covid-19 cases, HRSA implemented the Covid-19 Testing Supply Program – a program that supplies health centers with free at-home self-tests to distribute to all patients and community members.
A county-wide report by the Westchester County Department of Health (DOH) found that low-income communities had the highest percentage of active Covid-19 cases. Some of the most impacted communities included Ossining, Sleepy Hollow, Port Chester, and Mount Kisco. In an effort to make testing accessible, the DOH reached out to Open Door and provided 5,000 Covid-19 rapid test kits for immediate distribution to these highly affected communities. Open Door proudly took on the challenge and has launched a weekly mass distribution of test kits at each of our health center locations.
With the support of Ossining Union Free School District, The Joseph G. Caputo Community Center, and other community partners to help spread the word, Open Door held an event at the Ossining Open Door to give away these free at-home test kits. Hundreds of individuals stopped by, and over 1,800 test kits were distributed. Self-testing tutorials and Covid-19 education were also provided by our Covid-19 Outreach specialists. Open Door will continue its distribution efforts at all Open Door medical centers and School-Based Health Centers.
“Open Door and community health centers around the country have been at the forefront of leading the mitigation efforts against Covid -19”, said Grace Battaglia, Open Door’s Director of Marketing. “Our Covid-19 Outreach program focuses on building trust with our communities – providing them with important updates and health education, answering their most pressing questions, and making testing and vaccinations accessible to those who need them most. Through the Covid-19 rapid test distribution efforts, we aim to ensure that every individual and family has access to FREE test kits in their home.”
HRSA also implemented the Covid-19 N95 Mask Program, which will provide Open Door with thousands of adult N95 masks to distribute to the community. Additionally, HRSA is allocating a limited supply of Covid-19 antiviral pills to select health centers. Open Door is using its supply to treat its most at-risk patient population.
To date, Open Door has administered over 53,000 vaccinations to 29,000 individuals and has provided Covid-19 outreach and education to more than 2,000 individuals.
