Courtney Luciana Photo
James Mase (in car) makes it to front of the line at Long Wharf site.
Both of New Haven’s Covid-19 saliva-test sites are scheduled to reopen Monday, according to city emergency management chief Rick Fontana.
Fontana said that one of the sites, a drive-up site at 60 Sargent Dr., will operate as usual from 8 a.m. to noon.
The second site, on the New Green, will be open from 3 to 6 p.m., Fontana said. That second site had closed abruptly recently because of a shortage of tests and personnel. The Wren testing lab operates the sites in conjunction with the city.
No appointments are needed; drive-ins will be accepted on Long Wharf, and walk-ins on the Green, Fontana said. But people should anticipate waiting in lines to get their tests.
The city had hoped to receive enough at-home test kits (30,000) from the state to conduct a mass distribution for the general public. But a deal for the state to receive those tests fell through last week.
Officials also did receive some rapid antigen tests from the state, 4,500 kits (with two tests apiece). It has begun distributing them to “community groups servicing vulnerable residents – such as the elderly and those experiencing homelessness,” mayoral spokesperson Kyle Buda reported in a release issued Sunday. The city plans to distribute these tests as well to public school families whose children “are symptomatic or have a known COVID exposure,” Buda added.
Meanwhile, the city on its own procured a first batch of 9,000 tests (4,500 two-test kits), which it is distributing to “essential city staff – particularly teachers ahead of the first day of school on Monday as well as firefighters, police officers, and public works,” Buda stated.
City Hall tweeted this announcement about paying bills Monday: “Tomorrow, 1/3/22 the offices of the New Haven Tax Collector as well as the Accounts Receivable Department will not be open. Staff from those office will be working remotely. Individuals looking to pay a tax bill may still do so online or via the city hall dropbox.”
Elicker and company need to start living in the real world: CoViD-19 is endemic. Nearly everyone will be exposed. Trying to forestall exposure by closing offices is foolish. We can however, minimize illness through vaccination and trying to maintain good health. The best ways to avoid serious illness are: be young, be healthy, and be vaccinated.