Bishop-designate Bruce Lewandowski, C.Ss.R., appealed to Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan Jr. June 10 to increase free COVID-19 testing in Baltimore to expand beyond his parish of Sacred Heart of Jesus/Sagrado Corazón de Jesús in Highlandtown.
But even at Sacred Heart of Jesus, health officials have struggled to keep up with demand as hundreds have sought testing in recent weeks. The line frequently snakes around the block of the church, but officials often have no more than 150 tests on any given day. At least three of Bishop-designate Lewandowski’s parishioners who unsuccessfully sought testing have died.
“We’re calling on the governor to invest in the people of Baltimore with tests,” said Bishop-designate Lewandowski, explaining while capacity has improved in affluent communities, it still lags in poorer African American and Latino neighborhoods.
African Americans and Latinos in Maryland have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. Bishop-designate Lewandowski’s parish is considered by many the heart of the Hispanic community in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.
“In a hearing last week, the state health commissioner said anybody in the state of Maryland who wants to get tested, can get tested, and that may be true if you have insurance, if you can pay for the test,” Bishop-designate Lewandowski said. “Our folks are not insured. They can’t pay for the test.”
According to the Maryland Health Department, Sacred Heart of Jesus’ ZIP code – 21224 – has more than 1,000 current confirmed cases of COVID-19, the highest in the state.
The newly named bishop was joined by representatives from Baltimoreans United in Leadership Development, (BUILD), which is helping to administer the testing at Sacred Heart of Jesus, and several African American pastors of other Baltimore churches in hard-hit communities.
“Because black and brown people in the city of Baltimore are the most affected by the virus, we need to be there in great numbers with testing, with follow up, with getting the results out quickly,” Bishop-designate Lewandowski said. “I would say also investing in Baltimore is key to the recovery here economically. If we don’t do this now, the economic recovery is going to lag.”
Baltimore Health Commissioner Dr. Letitia Dzirasa and Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson, a Baltimore Democrat, were also on hand. Ferguson said he supports the efforts of the parish and BUILD, saying increased testing is essential to recovery.
Mike Ricci, a spokesman for Gov. Hogan, said the state and the city are committed to providing as many tests as needed for the Sacred Heart of Jesus site.
“The limiting factor is staffing support, and we have talked to Johns Hopkins officials to see if they can help provide more support to the site,” Ricci said. “[Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford] and the governor’s chief legislative officer, Keiffer Mitchell, have both spoken to the pastors in recent days.”
Bishop-designate Lewandowski said last week a parishioner from his church named Leo collapsed while waiting in line to be tested for COVID-19. That man was rushed to Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, where he is now listed in critical condition.
“He’s a father of two teenage children, a good husband and a hardworking man. This mobile testing unit was the intervention that saved him,” Bishop-designate Lewandowski said.
He noted the problem is more pronounced in Highlandtown for many reasons.
He said many of his infected parishioners are considered essential, working in industries such as food service, health care and construction. Some residents are immigrants who either can’t afford medical care or worry that seeking medical care will call attention to their immigration status.
“In our Latino community, it’s hard to social distance. I would say the key to that is we have multi-family homes,” Bishop-designate Lewandowski said. “If one person gets sick, it could infect three or four families that live in the same housing complex.”
On June 10, more than 50 people were already in line two hours before testing officially opened.
William Interiano, 15, came with his family of five after he saw information about the testing site on Instagram. He doesn’t have any symptoms, but he said he knows at least four people in his extended family who have become infected.
“People in the family were starting to get sick, more and more. It’s a cause for concern,” Interiano said. “I’m just taking no risks.”
Email Tim Swift at tswift@CatholicReview.org
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