Woonsocket Mayor and City Safety Officials Visit New COVID-19 Mass Testing Site at Former Olympia Sports on Diamond Hill Road
April 7, 2021
Contact: Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt
lbaldellihunt@woonsocketri.org; 401-767-9205
Woonsocket Mayor and City Safety Officials Visit New COVID-19 Mass Testing Site at Former Olympia Sports on Diamond Hill Road
WOONSOCKET, R.I.: Woonsocket Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt is pleased to share that a new mass COVID-19 rapid testing site operated by Rhode Island Disaster Medical Assistance/Medical Reserve Corps (RIDMA) has opened at the former Olympia Sports in the Walnut Hill Plaza at 1500 Diamond Hill Road; adjacent to the new State mass vaccination site. The testing site is open seven days a week from the hours of 9:00 AM through 5:00 PM. The testing site accepts walk-ins and appointments can also be booked at www.portal.ri.gov or call 401-222-8022. Testing is free and there are no residency restrictions on who can be tested.
The Mayor and Woonsocket public safety officials toured the testing site on Friday, April 2nd prior to their afternoon visit of the neighboring State mass vaccination site. The purpose of the visit was to learn more about the operations and services provided at both sites. This will enable the City to advise residents more effectively in Woonsocket and surrounding Rhode Island cities and towns about local COVID-19 testing and vaccination options, and to be better able to direct them to the facility that best meets their needs.
The Mayor stated, “This new RIDMA mass testing site will be a tremendous resource to Woonsocket and other local communities for residents to get tested for COVID-19 in a quick, convenient and reliable way with no long lines or having to wait days for results. I am pleased that RIDMA chose Woonsocket for their regional mass COVID-19 testing center, as well as for the mass Covid-19 vaccination site.” The Mayor added, “I encourage our local residents, especially those who have not yet been vaccinated, to get tested for COVID-19 whether they have symptoms or not, and this new RIDMA site will make it easier to do so.”
RIDMA Executive Officer, Brooke Lawrence explained, “Our organization is pleased to be supporting both the vaccination and testing centers here in Woonsocket. COVID-19 cases are on the rise in Northern RI, and to stop the spread we urge you to get tested as soon as possible. We offer both the Rapid 15-minute test and the PCR test, which we can use to determine the strain of COVID-19 that is causing this surge.” Lawrence also appealed for volunteers at the site, “Rhode Island has a long history of volunteerism and we continue that tradition by opening these critical facilities. New clinical and non-clinical volunteers are always welcome. If you would like to help your fellow citizens, join us by visiting www.rimrc.org.”
The new Woonsocket RIDMA testing site on Diamond Hill Road opened on March 26th and is unique because it offers both BinaxNow rapid testing where accurate results are usually produced in about 15 minutes, as well as the more sensitive PCR test where results are available after 24 hours. The site is equipped to perform over 750 tests per day and everyone, whether they have symptoms or not is encouraged to come in to be tested. Individuals who have any COVID-19 symptoms, even a runny nose, will be directed to call a special phone number posted at the testing site, after which a site worker will come out to that individual’s car to administer the COVID-19 test. The testing site has plenty of parking in the front of the building and entrance doors are clearly marked.