SEPTA today announced a partnership with the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium (BDCC) to provide COVID-19 testing for employees. The BDCC is a volunteer group of local doctors, nurses and other medical professionals that has been providing free COVID-19 tests to communities in need throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The partnership with SEPTA will allow the BDCC to devote additional resources to testing in communities that SEPTA serves.
“SEPTA’s workforce has been a source of pride for all of us during this crisis,” said SEPTA Board Chairman Pasquale T. Deon Sr. “Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been working to implement a variety of employee health and safety measures, and we are pleased to be able to offer this testing service as an additional resource for our employees in the fight against COVID-19.”
Testing, which is free for SEPTA employees, began today at the Fern Rock Transportation Center. Testing will be conducted twice a week at major SEPTA hubs, rotating to other locations including Midvale District, Suburban Station and 69th Street Transportation Center.
“The BDCC has been instrumental in helping our communities throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,” said SEPTA Board Vice Chairman Kenneth E. Lawrence Jr. “If we can make this critical testing available to our employees while supporting the Consortium’s efforts to expand testing in our communities, that is truly a win-win.”
“SEPTA employees have been providing essential service throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and we are happy to help bring testing to their places of work,” said SEPTA General Manager Leslie S. Richards. “The health and safety of our employees and customers has been, and will continue to be, our top priority in the battle against COVID-19. As we move into the Yellow Phase of our recovery, this partnership will give us new resources to respond to the needs of our employees throughout the system.”
“We are proud to partner with SEPTA on this initiative,” said Dr. Ala Stanford of the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium. “This agreement will deliver critical services to both SEPTA employees and our communities as we fight the COVID-19 pandemic.”