News

The CATE Mobile Response Unit will visit YMCA locations in Berks, Lehigh, and Northampton Counties 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.

Testing will be offered today in partnership with St. Luke’s University Health Network and the Bethlehem Health Bureau at the Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley in South Bethlehem (520 E. 4th St.).

Through a shared vision for healthcare equality and a commitment for supporting diverse and underserved communities, the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Highmark Blue Shield, Independence Blue Cross, and Latino Connection partnered to create a 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:

• Wednesday, September 9 from 11am-3pm at the Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley 520 E. 4th St., Bethlehem, PA 18015
• Friday, September 11 from 11am-3pm at the Reading Branch YMCA 631 Washington St. Reading, PA 19601
• Saturday, September 12 from 11am-3pm at the Sinking Spring YMCA 4920 Penn Ave. Sinking Spring, PA 19608
• Monday, September 14 and Tuesday, September 15 from 11am-3pm at the Allentown YMCA 425 15th St. Allentown, PA 18102

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.

CATE will be making many more stops across Pennsylvania in the coming weeks. If you are not able to attend this event, please check www.CATEmobileunit.com to see CATE’s future tour schedule.