The End of an Era: Philadelphia Department of Public Health’s Mobile COVID-19 Testing Unit Comes to a Close After Serving Underserved Communities

The COVID-19 Mobile Testing Unit of the Philadelphia Department of Public Health has come to a close in June after serving as a crucial role in providing testing and guidance to underserved communities during the pandemic. The unit started with one vehicle in December 2020 and added a second vehicle in May 2021, and its success was attributed to the partnerships established with community and faith-based organizations across the city.

A needs assessment conducted in 2022, along with ongoing COVID-19 surveillance data, helped determine the neighborhoods where the testing trucks would be deployed. Despite various weather conditions, the Mobile Testing Unit continued to offer free COVID-19 testing to all Philadelphia residents even after the public health emergency ended in May 2023. During its operation, the unit served over 24,000 patients, visited 59 neighborhoods, administered thousands of tests, distributed home test kits, and participated in health fairs and community events. The unit was also featured in a presentation at the 2022 American Public Health Association Conference in Boston.

The key staff members who played an essential role in making this program successful include Program Manager Vernell Brown, Program Assistant Cielo Butler, Supervisor Rabiah Asif, and Coordinator Mekeida Thomas. Additionally, we acknowledge the contributions of testing instructors and support from the COVID-19 Containment clinical team and PHL lab. We are proud of what we have achieved together and look forward to continuing our work towards improving public health outcomes for our community.