Coronavirus testing site to open in East St. Louis as push for more testing continues
A new coronavirus testing site is set to open in East St. Louis in an effort to increase testing in the metro-east.
State Sen. Chris Belt, D-Cahokia, and State Rep. LaToya Greenwood, D-East St. Louis, on Saturday announced the opening of a new COVID-19 testing site at the Windsor Health Center, 100 N. Eighth St.
In a joint statement, Belt and Greenwood announced through a partnership with the Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation system that three testing locations, one of which is Windsor Health Center, will offer 470 test swabs per day starting early next week. Test swabs will be sent to Anderson Hospital in Madison County for processing.
The locations of the other two sites have yet to be announced.
“This pandemic has exposed the harsh and grim reality of subpar health care that has led to glaring comorbidity rates for citizens residing in impoverished communities, particularly for African Americans. Access to quality health care must be a right of every single person in this country, no matter their socioeconomic status or zip code,” Belt said.
“The governor listened to our request and he answered in making sure the citizens in East St. Louis and the surrounding communities received the necessary resources in obtaining access, testing and treatment during this crisis,” Greenwood added.
As of Friday, there were a total of 401 COVID-19 patients in Southwestern Illinois who have tested positive for the virus and 12 people who have died. Statewide, 17,887 people have been diagnosed with coronavirus and 596 have died.
More information on the testing site is expected to be announced Monday during a live stream on East St. Louis’ Facebook page www.facebook.com/estlcityhall.
This story was originally published April 11, 2020 at 1:19 PM.