To protect communities of color from additional exposure to the novel coronavirus, Northwell Health is expanding COVID-19 testing it has been offering at churches throughout New York City, Long Island and Westchester County since May 13.
Working in collaboration with Gov. Cuomo, the state Department of Health and local pastors, Northwell has administered more than 23,000 antibody and diagnostic COVID-19 tests at 24 churches located in primarily minority communities.
Beginning last week, Northwell expanded COVID-19 antibody testing to 25 additional churches in the city, Long Island, and Rockland and Westchester counties. Antibodies are proteins that help fight off infections.
A simple blood test shows if people have had a previous infection with the virus.
To date, results have shown that the prevalence of COVID-19 is disproportionately higher within Hispanic and African-American communities within communities throughout the city and Long island.
