COVID-19 Testing Site Transportation is Setup

POUGHKEEPSIE – The City of Poughkeepsie, in partnership with Dutchess County and Midhudson Regional Hospital, is launching an initiative to provide transit service to and from a COVID-19 testing site for city residents who want a test but who lack transportation to get there.

MidHudson Regional Hospital has been operating a drive-through COVID-19 sample collection site just outside the city’s borders in the Town of Poughkeepsie. The City and County are teaming up to address a gap involving those in the city who don’t have transportation.

“This will be a big step to address concerns that have been raised in the City of Poughkeeepsie, and we appreciate the efforts of both Dutchess County Executive Molinaro and MidHudson Regional Hospital to help solve the issue,” said City of Poughkeepsie Mayor Rob Rolison.

“This partnership responds to unique challenges of the Coronavirus pandemic in an urban community – where there is greater population density and many people who do not have their own transportation,” said Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro. “The County and City have a strong partnership, and that relationship has served us well through the COVID crisis.This transportation initiative addresses a paramount concern – ensuring people have the ability to get tested so we can stop the spread of COVID-19.”

The County will pay for the bus service, which will bring people who lack transportation from their house to the testing site. The County will contract with Cedar Bus Co. which has the capacity to provide adequate social distancing and can sanitize the buses between trips.

The City will be responsible for taking the calls from residents and scheduling the testing appointment and booking the transportation. City residents who lack transportation but want to be tested should call 845-451-4073 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays or Wednesdays to schedule an appointment. The testing will be available between 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.