Expanding access: Local doctors open free COVID-19 testing site at Princeton YMCA
Two local doctors have set up a COVID-19 testing site at the Princeton YMCA on Paul Robeson Place.
Rameck Hunt, a doctor of internal medicine with Penn Medicine Princeton Health, decided to set up his own satellite testing site at the YMCA because there aren’t enough testing sites in the community. He recruited a childhood friend, emergency physician Sampson Davis, to help him out.
“The YMCA has the space, and most critically, it’s a central, walkable location in town,” Hunt said. “In this area, most testing sites can only be accessed by car.”
On March 15, Hunt, Davis, a nurse practitioner, and a physician’s assistant set up their testing site, which is open every day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Located on the lower level of the YMCA building as you enter the main driveway, there are outdoor tents for individuals to wait in order to maintain social distancing protocols. If you need a COVID-19 test, you can make an appointment ahead of time or just walk up to the tent. Under federal law, all forms of public and private insurance, including self-funded plans, must cover the costs associated with testing with no cost-sharing. Even if you don’t have insurance to cover the test, you can still receive a test free of charge. Hunt said that for now, he and Davis are picking up the tab for the tests for residents who don’t have insurance.
“We decided to put in some resources because it’s a needed service: people need to be able to be tested,” Hunt said. “Testing is still super important. A lot of people are getting the vaccine, which is very, very good, but we still need to be able to provide this service.”
For more information or to make an appointment, visit https://expressmedcarenj.com/ or call (609) 785-1844.
Krystal Knapp is the founding editor of Planet Princeton. Follow her on Twitter @krystalknapp. She can be reached via email at editor AT planetprinceton.com. Send all letters to the editor and press releases to that email address.