Riverside Medical Group opening up COVID-19 testing for Hoboken businesses

In anticipation of the State of New Jersey reopening, the Riverside Medical Group is opening up their COVID-19 testing for Hoboken businesses, with appointments available Monday through Friday.

By John Heinis/Hudson County View

“Hoboken is committed to providing businesses with the tools they need to safely re-open. Access to COVID-19 testing for employees is a critical component of restoring confidence to customers and lending a helping hand to our small businesses during this pandemic,” Mayor Ravi Bhalla said in a statement.

“I’m thrilled our partnership with Riverside continues to provide a major benefit for our City and thank Dr. Brahmbhatt and his staff for the continued support, and to members of the Hoboken Economic Recovery Task Force for providing this excellent suggestion.”

Employees of Hoboken businesses do not need to have COVID-19 symptoms in order to receive a test.

To register for a COVID-19 test, the Hoboken business owner or employee should call the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) hotline in City Hall at 201-420-5621, Monday through Friday, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., to register for an appointment.

Additionally, business owners can also call the hotline and provide a list of employees over the phone.

“We at Riverside Medical Group understand that COVID-19 testing plays an integral part in reopening our cities and towns as safely as we can along with following other safety precautions and continued social distancing,” added Dr. Gaurang Brahmbhatt from Riverside Medical Group.

“With the ongoing support of the Mayor and the City of Hoboken, Riverside will continue offering testing to residents and business owners as we work together to reopen as well as fight this pandemic.”

Similar to testing for Hoboken residents, employees can either walk or drive to the testing site at the designated time.

Proof of employment at a Hoboken business, such as a copy of a paycheck, tax form, or signed letter from the owner of a business, is required at the time of testing.

If an employee does not have health insurance, the city will pay for the cost of the test and walk ins are still not permitted.

“Our small businesses are what make Hoboken a special place, and I am happy to support this initiative to expand testing to all of our hardworking employees,” stated Council President Giattino.

“When Hoboken re-opens, we are making sure our businesses can do so with as many safety precautions as possible. We appreciate the services provided by Riverside Medical and are glad for the help for our mom and pop stores.”

“We plan to do everything we can to keep our staff and our customers safe once we reopen,” said Meghan Lukin, owner of Washington General, and member of the Hoboken Economic Recovery Task Force.

“The option for testing adds another layer of comfort as we get back to business in this new norm. We’re thankful for the support of the City, as we know the retail community is about to embark on a whole new set of challenges in the reopening phase.”

Since early April, Riverside Medical has provided COVID-19 testing to over 2,000 Hoboken residents.

COVID-19 testing is available to all Hoboken residents with or without symptoms, with results provided within 15 minutes on site after receiving the test.

Last week, Mayor Bhalla and the Hoboken City Council introduced a Business Recovery Plan to reshape the utilization of streets and sidewalks in order to expand outdoor capacity for small businesses.

The plan permits businesses to expand outdoor space on the sidewalk, create shared spaces, and creates a framework for businesses to operate further into the street during scheduled road closures.