Stamford partners with local organizations to bring accessible COVID-19 testing to community

Stamford Mayor David Martin stopped by the clinic on Stillwater Avenue that was co-sponsored by the city, the Concerned Clergy Coalition and the NAACP on Saturday.

News 12 Staff

Jan 21, 2021, 1:46 PM

Updated 1,430 days ago

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As one local town gets a vaccine out to the community, they want to make sure testing is still accessible.
Stamford Mayor David Martin stopped by the clinic on Stillwater Avenue that was co-sponsored by the city, the Concerned Clergy Coalition and the NAACP on Saturday.
Residents could drive or walk up to the parking lot to get tested.
"We want to make certain that we have that testing capacity for anyone who needs it," says Mayor Martin.
He says they have plans for three vaccination sites to open in the coming weeks, including one at Stamford Hospital, but that shouldn't stop residents from getting tested.
"We're going to still be with coronavirus in the community for many months to come. It takes a while for the vaccine to take effect, plus the vaccine supply is extremely limited, so…we're still pushing the testing," Martin says.
He says partnerships with nonprofits and faith-based organizations are important for reaching communities of color about testing and vaccinations. "Our minority communities have a high-rate infection and we want to make sure that we're able to bring the services to the communities that need it," he says.
Dr. Joseph Ford is the liaison for the Concerned Clergy Coalition. He says he understands some people in communities of color are hesitant to get tested and vaccinated, and he hopes his participation will help alleviate those fears.
"Number one wear your mask, number two know your status, get tested. But number three, participate in the vaccine as well," Ford says.
The site on Stillwater Avenue is planning another testing day in the same location.