Rutgers To Receive $3.8M For Coronavirus Testing For Underserved

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — As cases of the coronavirus continue to surge across the country, Rutgers University will receive $3.8 million to improve COVID-19 in underserved communities, according to Rep. Frank Pallone.

Pallone (D-NJ6) announced on Tuesday that the funding is being made available through the National Institutes of Health’s Initiative and will go to help provide more testing to African American, American Indians/Alaskan Natives, Latinos/Latinas communities as well as to older residents, pregnant women and those in New Jersey who are either homeless or incarcerated.

Research has shown that Black and Latinx residents are three times as likely to contract the coronavirus and are twice as likely to die from the virus, according to a news release issued by Pallone’s office.

“While we have made progress to close racial and ethnic health disparities in recent years, people of color in America continue to experience disparities in care and worse health outcomes compared to white Americans,” Pallone said in the release. “Unfortunately, we have clear evidence that communities of color have suffered disproportionately during the coronavirus pandemic

“As new cases rise each day, it’s important that everyone – regardless of where you live – has access to a COVID-19 test if they need one. We know that extensive testing is critical if we want to crush this pandemic and get people back to work and school safely.”

Rutgers officials said that as a university dedicated not only to serving those across New Jersey but to impacting health care, the funding will go a long way in providing testing services to those who otherwise may not be able to afford such services.

“This will assist in removing barriers to care for all New Jerseyans during this devastating pandemic”, Reynold Panettieri, Rutgers vice chancellor for translational medicine and science.