The COVID-19 Pandemic has brought challenges to everyone this year, and in Deep Ellum, the service industry has been hit especially hard throughout the course of 2020. Between opening and closing several times, managing occupancy requirements, and pivoting to takeout models, one consistent challenge has been finding fast, free, and convenient COVID testing for members of Deep Ellum’s service industry.
Seeing the need in the community for better testing, the Deep Ellum Community Association (DECA) has sought to fill that need. Comprising volunteer community members, DECA understands firsthand how helpful effective testing could be for the neighborhood. Allen Falkner, co-owner of The Nines, and Chris Schrag, an employee at Trees, have led the charge for DECA and brought this project to fruition.
DECA has partnered with Inhealth Diagnostics to provide free COVID-19 testing for Deep Ellum service industry employees and residents. Taking place every Tuesday from 1:00pm-3:00pm in the Life in Deep Ellum parking lot, hundreds have already been tested and received their results in 24-36 hours. This service will continue every Tuesday until it is no longer needed.