The CATE Mobile Response Unit will visit YMCA locations in York, Lancaster, and Lebanon Counties next week to conduct COVID-19 testing on-site for individuals who are showing symptoms or who have been exposed to COVID-19 while also educating the public on how to stay healthy and safe.
Through a shared vision for healthcare equality and a commitment for supporting diverse and underserved communities, the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Highmark, and Latino Connection partnered to create the first of its kind COVID-19 Mobile Response Unit, CATE, with the unified purpose of building healthy communities through accessibility to knowledge and care. CATE, which stands for Community-Accessible Testing & Education, focuses on providing testing, education, and resources to individuals in low-income, vulnerable communities.
The mobile response unit’s tagline is “Sharing knowledge to erase fear,” which it intends to do through widespread community healthcare and health education offered for free and with no insurance required.
CATE’s schedule is as follows:
·Monday, August 24 from 11am-3pm at the Littlestown YMCA, 95 Keystone Street, Littlestown, PA 17340
·Tuesday, August 25 from 1pm-5pm at the Hanover Area YMCA, 500 George Street, Hanover, PA 17331
·Wednesday, August 26 from 11am-3pm at the York Branch Area YMCA, 90 N Newberry Street, York, PA 17401
·Thursday, August 27 from 11am-3pm at the Southern Branch YMCA, 100 Constitution Avenue, Shrewsbury, PA 17361
·Friday and Saturday, August 28 and 29 from 11am-3pm at City Center YMCA, 265 Harrisburg Avenue, Lancaster, PA 17603
Those interested in receiving services should visit the website at www.CATEmobileunit.com for more information about upcoming events. Testing is available on a first come, first serve basis. All services are available for insured and uninsured individuals alike. Social distancing guidelines will be followed at all times.
As a reminder, symptoms of COVID-19 can include:
·Fever
·Cough
·Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
·Diarrhea
·Chills
·Repeating shaking with chills
·Muscle pain
·Headache
·Sore throat
·New loss of taste or smell
Symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure. Reported illnesses have ranged from people with little to no symptoms to people being severely ill and dying.
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