JP test site sees double
Shows positive rates more than 2x state average
A coronavirus testing site in Jamaica Plain has a positive test rate more than twice the state average, showing that, even as Massachusetts reopens, the pandemic is not over, and residents are urged to continue getting tested for the virus.
“It’s not surprising that living in a densely populated city in apartment buildings or with multi-generational families living together that the rate would be higher,” said Margaret Jolliffe, executive director at Brookside Health Community Center.
Jolliffe said the positive test rate at the center is about 10%, more than double the state rate, which as of Wednesday was just 3.8%.
Staff at the center also track test rates by zip code, and residents from Dorchester show a rate of about 14%. Residents of other neighborhoods such as Hyde Park and Mattapan also have high test positivity rates, according to Jolliffe.
When the center opened on May 20, Jolliffe said staff did about 90 tests a day, but since Monday they have conducted about 150 per day for people of all ages.
“In the coming weeks I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw an uptick coinciding both with the reopening and with the protests,” said Jolliffe, referring to ongoing protests calling for justice for George Floyd.
As the state continues to reopen, Jolliffe said it’s important that residents continue to get tested for the coronavirus.
“I worry a little bit with the weather getting nice and all the messages about reopening that people won’t” get tested, she said.
Jamaica Plain has a case count less than the rest of Boston with 664 cases, data from the Boston Public Health Commission shows.
Citywide, the positive test rate for Boston was 7.1% last week, according to a BPHC spokeswoman. In Jamaica Plain, it was 5%.
Neighborhoods with high case counts, according to BPHC data, include Mattapan, Dorchester, East Boston, Roxbury, South End, Roslindale and Hyde Park.
Boston City Councilor Matt O’Malley, who represents Jamaica Plain, said, “We know we’ve seen health disparities as it relates to COVID-19 and we also just need to remember we are not out of the woods yet.”
The Brookside testing site also offers food to those in need, care kits, health screening and voter registration services. It is one of many centers that opened in collaboration with Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
“It continues to be concerning that folks are really responding that they’re food insecure and are quite grateful to have the food,” Jolliffe said.
Testing at Brookside will continue until July 10. Testing is on a walk-in, first-come, first-serve basis. Patients do not need to be a Brigham patient to be screened and do not need to have health insurance to get services.