Nearly 35,000 tests performed throughout Bergen County, program to resume by early September

(Paramus, N.J.) In May, the County of Bergen and Bergen New Bridge Medical Center launched an innovative testing initiative bringing COVID-19 saliva testing and antibody testing directly into local communities throughout the county. Through the initiative, nearly 35,000 tests were administered, 25,311 of which were diagnostic and 9,123 antibody. An estimated combined 22,500 staff and volunteer hours were dedicated to support all aspects of the mobile testing to stop the spread. The Community COVID-19 Mobile Testing Program has paused operations for the summer and will ramp up again in early September.

38,457: Total COVID-19 Tests at BNBMC Drive-Thru and Community Mobile Locations

41: Locations in 11 weeks of community mobile testing

34: Days hosting Drive-Thru testing at BNBMC

4,023: Total COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests at Drive-Thru

34,434: Total COVID-19 Tests at Community Mobile Locations

25,311: Total COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests at Community Mobile Locations

9,123: Total COVID-19 Antibody Tests at Community Mobile Locations

27.0%: April COVID-19 Diagnostic Positive Rate (Drive-Thru)

2.5%: May COVID-19 Diagnostic Positive Rate

0.7%: June COVID-19 Diagnostic Positive Rate

1.2%: July COVID-19 Diagnostic Positive Rate

20.7%: May COVID-19 Antibody Positive Rate

9.4%: June COVID-19 Antibody Positive Rate

8.7%: July COVID-19 Antibody Positive Rate

100%: Bergen County municipalities that served as a community mobile testing site partner

4,500: Dedicated Staff and volunteer hours (Drive-up)

22,500: Dedicated staff and volunteer hours (Mobile)

***The numbers reported do not include statistics from the FEMA drive-thru testing location at Bergen Community College

“The mobile testing program received a tremendous and positive response from the public. This shows the dedication of Bergen County residents to do their part to fight this pandemic by being tested. Our success is a direct result of public participation and the tireless effort and dedication of every one of our mobile site team members,” said Bergen County Executive James J. Tedesco, lll. “This testing played a pivotal role in reopening our county and our state in a safe and sustainable manner. We will continue our community outreach by being a mobile source for testing at long term care facilities, schools, and businesses.”

“Bergen County had the opportunity to demonstrate innovation, partnership and commitment to caring for our residents through the mobile testing program and subsequent community outreach,” said Bergen County Freeholder Chairwoman Mary Amoroso.

“We recognized early on during this pandemic the importance and need for robust testing and invested in making nasal, antibody, and saliva testing available at the Medical Center,” said Deborah Visconi, President and CEO of Bergen New Bridge Medical Center. “If we had any chance at mitigating and eventually containing COVID-19, it was going to be directly related to accessible testing. I am proud of our County Executive’s commitment to the residents of our county and that we were able to work hand in glove with the County of Bergen to establish a drive up testing center on our campus and mobile community testing to better serve the needs of our diverse communities.”

For more information regarding COVID-19 testing at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, visit www.newbridgehealth.org.