The Hamilton County Health Department is partnering with several area churches in an effort to bring COVID-19 testing access to black communities.
Every weekend in June, testing for the coronavirus will be available to the public without an appointment at a different area church, including Mt. Canaan Baptist Church, Orchard Knob Missionary Baptist Church, Hawkinsville Baptist Church and Greater Tucker Baptist Church.
Gary Hathaway, pastor at Greater Tucker Missionary Baptist Church, said bringing testing directly to the community is important to remove barriers and allow residents to be proactive. Across the country, black Americans have been disproportionately infected and killed by the virus.
“Initially, the lack of testing was going on in certain parts of the city,” Hathaway said. “Also, for some people in our community, it was a little difficult to get to some of the locations.”
While the church is predominantly African American, anyone is welcome to be tested at Greater Tucker, Hathaway said.