COVID-19 testing opens in Hoboken, by appointment only

photo credit: The Jersey Journal

MAYOR BHALLA, RIVERSIDE MEDICAL ANNOUNCE TESTING CENTER NOW OPEN TO HOBOKEN RESIDENTS

Mayor Ravi Bhalla announced today that Riverside Medical Center has officially opened up COVID-19 testing to Hoboken residents. Any Hoboken resident with symptoms of COVID-19 is now eligible to receive a test through the existing Riverside Medical Center testing center on 14th Street between Jefferson Street and Madison Street.

Residents with symptoms of COVID-19 must call 201-420-5621 in advance to schedule an appointment. No walk-in testing will be permitted without an appointment. The calls will be fielded at City Hall by Hoboken’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) beginning today for a soft-launch between the hours of 1 pm and 4 pm, and this Saturday and Sunday between the hours of 9 am and 5 pm. Starting Monday, April 6, the call center will be open to schedule appointments from 9 am until 5 pm, Monday through Saturday. Riverside’s testing center will be open Monday through Saturday.

“I’m very glad that in partnership with Riverside Medical, we are now opening up testing to Hoboken residents,” said Mayor Bhalla. “Any Hoboken resident who is symptomatic now has the peace of mind that testing is now available. I’m extremely grateful to Riverside Medical for working with us on making this available to Hoboken, and especially to Dr. Gaurang Brahmbhat for expanding his services to help protect our residents.”

“The City Council is happy to see additional testing being made available to Hoboken residents,” said Council President Jen Giattino. “We all have learned the importance of additional testing to slowing down this virus. Thank you to Riverside Medical Group for working with Mayor Bhalla and the City Council.”

The testing center will be open to Hoboken residents only, with proof of a utility bill or driver’s license required. Anyone without symptoms will not be eligible for testing. The test will be free for all Hoboken residents. If a resident’s insurance does not pay the cost of the test, the City of Hoboken will cover the cost, which is approximately $50. Once an appointment is secured, the resident can either have the testing done through a drive-through with a vehicle, or through a walk-in station. The Riverside Medical station is the first in the State of New Jersey to offer an option for testing without the need for a vehicle.

“I also extend my sincere thanks to Sgt. Montanez from our Office of Emergency Management and the Hoboken CERT Team for staffing our call center, Director Leo Pellegrini, Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, Caleb Stratton and Brian Aloia from my staff for helping facilitate the logistics of the testing center, and to the Hoboken City Council for authorizing the purchase of testing kits for Hoboken residents,” said Mayor Bhalla.