Maya McFadden Photo
In hopes of encouraging the community to get tested for Covid-19 at one of New Haven’s five sites, Mayor Justin Elicker was swabbed and received an answer in less than a half hour Tuesday morning at the CVS rapid-testing site at 60 Sargent Dr.
The result: Negative for the coronavirus.
While going through the pre-test questionnaire with a medical professional from his car, Elicker explained having little to no Covid symptoms besides “a little bit” of a cough.
“I just wanted to show how easy it is,” the mayor said.
Elicker encouraged everyone who is symptomatic or not to schedule an appointment to get tested at one of the city sites so medical professionals can get a better understanding of the virus.
The Long Wharf site generally reserves its appointments to test those who are symptomatic or at risk because of their medical history. Other testing sites like on Dixwell Avenue and the Fair Haven Community Health Center will test individuals symptomatic or not.
Elicker took the self-administered test by putting a swab one to two inches inside each of his nostrils and rotating it 15 times. Then placed the swab in its original packaging and handed it off to medical staff to get tested.
In the parking lot of Jordan’s Furniture, Elicker and others awaited the rapid test results.
The Long Wharf testing site is the only one in the city with the Abbott rapid molecular ID NOW test for Covid-19. This allows for a diagnosis to be made with the return of results in no more than a half-hour.
After waiting nervously about ten minutes, Elicker received the call for his negative test results.
“I was going to do a Facebook Live but I decided I wanted this private moment to myself in the car,” he said.
Elicker also said the city is continuing to look into putting together more testing sites.
Elicker’s hope is to have the city ramp up its testing of asymptomatic people in the near future, he said. (Click here to learn more about testing options in town.)
Mayoral spokesperson Gage Frank said city residents need access only to a phone to make an appointment at the Long Wharf site. Individuals without cars can call 211 to have a taxi bring them to the site, with a protected driver. Frank said the taxi drivers can also provide gloves and a mask to those in need of them. After every use, the taxis are sanitized completely. Those without internet access can call 211 to have the health department book a testing appointment for them as well.