DePaul Community Health Centers physician Dr. Frank DePaula discusses the free COVID and antibody testing available. “Many people who get COVID 19 never have symptoms or only have mild ones,” DePaula said. (Danae Columbus photo)
DePaul Community Health Centers, formerly known as Daughters of Charity Health Centers, are offering free COVID 19 and antibody tests at nine of their 10 locations in metro New Orleans. DePaul is working in partnership with Louisiana Health Care Connections and Quest Diagnostics to test both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals in under-served communities.
Tests available include the COVID 19 PCR test, which will confirm an active virus, and the COVID 19 IgG serology test, which will identify a previous infection.
Though free PCR tests are offered at several locations across the city, DePaul is currently the only provider of free antibody testing. Because I might have contracted the virus before Mardi Gras, I signed up for the serology blood test at the DePaul Uptown campus, 3201 S. Carrollton Ave. I had previously tested negative for the virus.
The health center’s attending physician, Dr. Frank Pascualin DePaula, provided clear and concise information about the antibody test and its benefits. “The test looks for antibodies in the blood to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID 19. Many people who get COVID 19 never have symptoms or only have mild ones,” DePaula said.
Antibody testing is important, he continued, not only because it shows which people might be safe to go back to work versus those who are still at risk, it also helps experts learn more about the virus and how it spreads.
False positive test results are possible. There is also no certainty that a positive test result will protect someone from getting COVID 19 again or how long the protection might last.
“The COVID-19 virus devastated our community, and DePaul Community Health Centers is proud to continue in our state’s efforts to combat the virus by offering testing for both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals and antibody testing,” said Michael Griffin, president and CEO. “Knowing one’s status is key to curbing the effects of the virus. We are especially pleased to offer these services to our core patient population in under-served areas. Everyone is invited to visit our health centers for testing.”
Other DePaul Community Health Centers on New Orleans’ east bank include 100 Warring Drive in Gentilly, 3303 Higgins Blvd. in the Desire area, 5630 Read Blvd. in New Orleans East and 1030 Lesseps St. in Bywater. Crescent Care in Marigny and Ochsner clinics in Mid-City and Lake Terrace also offer testing, and antibody tests are available at LCMC Health Urgent Care in Lakeview.
Free COVID 19 tests are available this week at Mount Zion United Methodist Church, 2722 Louisiana Ave. in the Milan neighborhood. See ready.nola.gov for more information on testing sites.
ABSENTEE BALLOTS FOR JULY ELECTION NOW AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO QUALIFY
Working on an oil rig or going to the Gulf Coast beaches on July 11? You too can vote absentee.
With Louisiana’s presidential primary, a judicial race in First City Court and parish and state party elections rescheduled for July 11, voters who qualify for absentee ballots should be requesting them electronically through the Louisiana Secretary of State. The request can then be completed online or mailed, faxed or hand-delivered to the Orleans Parish Registrar of Voters, 1300 Perdido St.
Although the Louisiana Legislature refused to loosen absentee ballot eligibility this year, almost 700,000 Louisiana voters over the age of 65 already meet the criteria for mail-in voting. Many other categories of voters can also request an absentee ballot if they will not be present on Election Day in the parish where they are registered.
Voters who are or expect to be temporarily out of territorial limits of their parish of registration can apply to vote absentee as can voters working offshore. Others eligible include individuals residing in a nursing home, a veterans’ home or in a rehab facility because of a physical disability; members of the clergy and their spouses and dependents currently assigned outside of their parish of registration; and college students, professors and their spouses and dependents located or living away from their parish of registration.
In addition, registered voters who are incarcerated or hospitalized on Election Day and those involuntarily confined in a mental institution or sequestered as a juror are eligible to absentee vote. Disabled voters, overseas citizens, members of the military or registered voters who moved parishes within 30 days of an election also can vote by mail.
The Louisiana Secretary of State is notifying all voters over the age of 65 that they can participate in a mail-in ballot program. More than 300,000 senior voters received an informational letter in early April. It reminded seniors that in-person voting puts them at a higher health risk for COVID 19. The remaining seniors should receive an updated letter within the next 10 days. Several weeks ago, judicial candidate Marissa Hutabarat sent Orleans Parish seniors the application for voting by mail ballots.
According to CNN, Louisiana voters have picked the winning presidential candidate in every election from 1972 to 2004 and did so again in 2016 when they supported the candidacy of President Donald Trump. Louisiana will elect 61 delegates to attend the presidential conventions, in-person or virtual, in August, including 54 pledged delegates and seven super delegates.
Earlier this week voters in eight states and Washington, D.C., cast their ballots in person and by mail in congressional and presidential primaries — the first elections since the civil rights protests began during the pandemic and economic crisis. Voters in some states waited in long lines outdoors in the summer heat, competed with local curfews or had access only to a limited number of polling locations. Other states were flooded with mail-in ballots.
Though President Trump and other GOP leaders have frequently spoken out against mail-in ballot elections, it is the wave of the future. Hopefully, Louisiana will be onboard soon.
STEVE SCALISE GETS NEW ORLEANS ON THE GOP’S CONVENTION SHORT LIST
Though Louisiana does not carry the electoral college significance of Florida or Texas, New Orleans has landed on the short list of potential new sites for August’s Republican National Convention due in large part to U.S. Rep Steve Scalise’s relationship with President Trump. Having the convention here would be a tremendous signal that the region is again open for business.
Danae Columbus, opinion columnist
Danae Columbus, who has had a 30-year career in politics and public relations, offers her opinions on Thursdays. Her career includes stints at City Hall, the Dock Board and the Orleans Parish School Board and former clients such as District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro, City Councilman Jared Brossett, City Councilwoman-at-large Helena Moreno, Foster Campbell, former Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne, former Sheriff Charles Foti and former City Councilwomen Stacy Head and Cynthia Hedge-Morrell. She is a member of the Democratic Parish Executive Committee. Columbus can be reached at swampednola@gmail.com.
