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Virtua, Cooper, and Camden County collaborate to provide more options for county residents
Two new testing centers for COVID-19 will open in Camden to increase testing capability and bring it closer to home for many Camden residents. The new sites will replace the current testing location at Cooper’s Poynt Park, which will close May 1.
The two new sites are:
2600 Mount Ephraim Avenue in South Camden
Camden Division of Motor Vehicles parking lot
12 to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday
Opening Day: Wednesday, April 29
3101 Federal Street in East Camden
Dudley Grange Park
8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.*, Monday through Friday
Opening Day: Tuesday, May 5
“Every day of this pandemic is a learning experience,” said Louis Cappelli Jr., Camden County Freeholder Director. “We believe that adding new locations will not only expand testing capability, but also improve access for residents of Camden County. Collaboration among Virtua, Cooper, and Camden County and the sharing of resources is the best way for us to help the communities that we all serve.”
“The jointly operated site at Cooper’s Poynt Waterfront Park has been a tremendous resource and we have been able to test more than 1,600 Camden County residents at that site,” Cappelli continued. “We recognize, however, changing the geography of the sites will allow us to serve more residents and increase our capacity. In addition, by opening two locations, we can better serve other neighborhoods in the city for individuals who don’t have access to a vehicle.”
“Testing is one of the most important weapons we have in our fight to stop the spread of COVID-19. In order for testing to be effective, it must be widely accessible. By opening a second testing location in Camden, we are taking another positive step forward to expand testing options for all communities,” said Kevin O’Dowd, JD, Co-President/CEO of Cooper.
“Cooper is committed to improving access to COVID-19 testing for City residents and our dedicated teams are setting up sites that are convenient to as many residents as possible,” said Anthony Mazzarelli, MD, JD, MBE, Co-President/CEO of Cooper.
“We feel confident that these two new testing locations will help us to better meet people where they are,” said Virtua Health President and CEO Dennis W. Pullin, FACHE.
Virtua staff will operate the South Camden location; Cooper employees will manage the site at Dudley Grange Park in Stockton neighborhood of East Camden. Patients can access either site by car or on foot. Each site will test any Camden County resident by appointment who has a referral for testing from a medical provider at Virtua, Cooper, CamCare, or other provider. To make an appointment, call 856-968-7100 (Monday through Friday 8am-5pm). The initial site at Cooper’s Poynt Park will discontinue operations at 3 p.m. on May 1.
The Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers will support the testing with a community information campaign that will promote the availability of the new sites to Camden City residents. Cooper’s Ferry Partnership also collaborated with the two healthcare institutions and the county department of health to facilitate the mobile testing sites.
*hours are subject to change after the first week of operations based on demand