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City Partners with Mobile Lab for COVID-19 Testing as State Faces Vaccine Shortage by Kayode Crown
January 20 - February 2, 2021 • jfp.ms
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Courtesy of Charles Pickett
O
nly 18% of those who have been vaccinated in Mississippi are African Americans, though they account for about 40% of the population, Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba said at a media briefing on Jan. 14. “We have to do all that we can to serve communities that are underserved, and it is Black and Brown communities that have a disproportionate effect as it relates to this virus,” he said. “And as it relates to the number of individuals, the percentage of individuals who have actually been vaccinated, it is a sad statistic, and it is statistics that even as I talked to (State Health Officer) Dr. (Thomas) Dobbs, he acknowledges that they have to improve and do better.” At the event, Lumumba introduced a mobile laboratory company, LABLINQ, as a partner with the City to offer COVID19 testing across Jackson, with results obtained in less than 24 hours. The mayor explained that as the demand for vaccines outstrips the supply, adequate testing is important for early detection of the virus to save lives. “At this point in time, the demand for the vaccines far exceeds or far outweighs the access to it. And it is important that we have early detection as it relates to any virus or any disease,” Lumumba said. “There’s only (a small portion) of people that are eligible to take the vaccine at this time: those are individuals who are 65 years and older, individuals who work in health care, or people 16 years and older who have a chronic health condition.” The mayor said that the limitations surrounding the vaccine’s availability make the continued emphasis on mask usage and frequent testing vital. “I had a discussion with Dr. Dobbs just yesterday evening (Jan. 13), and (he) has shared with me (that) just in Mississippi, there are over 50,000 people that are scheduled for the vaccine at this point in time, but they do not have 50,000 vaccines prepared to address even that population,” the mayor said. “We’re a long way
Charles Pickett, chief executive officer of a mobile laboratory company, LABLINQ, explained the importance of testing to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 virus at a press conference on Thursday, Jan. 14.
away; we’re months, and possibly even a year away from being able to vaccinate the population to the extent that it will allow for herd immunity.” ‘No Q-tip Up Your Nose’ “LABLINQ has stepped up with the City of Jackson in order to provide a mech-
anism by which people can be tested, tested early, and tested often in a noninvasive way. That means that it does not require a Qtip up your nose or down your throat,” the mayor added. “It simply requires a saliva sample for us to be able to better understand where the infection is within our community.”
The city council approved the City’s partnership with LABLINQ at its Dec. 8 meeting, one week after the mayor disclosed that some neighborhoods had seen a 142% increase in COVID-19 cases. Later, on Dec. 22, Chief Administrative Officer more TESTING, p 8
First Responders: Care for Yourself One Small Way Each Day
source: CDC
