Important COVID-19 Message from Fr. Dominic to Our Community
July 17, 2020
Dear Community Members of Saint Thomas Aquinas,
The Peace of the Lord,
As you are all aware, the threat of COVID-19 in the city of Philadelphia continues to be present. We were recently notified of a possible exposure of COVID-19 from a member of our Parish from last weekend. The purpose of this communication is to make you aware of this situation and the steps we have taken to secure the safety and wellbeing of our community.
Following the strict guidelines of the CDC and the City of Philadelphia the following steps have been taken:
- Placed our 3 priests under a 14-day quarantine as a preventive measurement
- Community members are being notified through this communication and being provided with guidelines to maximize their safety and that of others (please refer to pages 2 and 3.)
- Buildings have been carefully sanitized to meet strict safety standards so our community can continue to participate in our masses.
Due to the precautionary steps taken, for the next two weeks, we will hold only one mass per week in English at St Thomas Aquinas Sundays at 10:00 AM which will be celebrated by an invited priest of the Archdiocese. All other weekly masses will restart Saturday August 1st, 2020.
Please remember that our Archbishop Nelson Perez has provided a dispensation of the obligation to attend Sunday Mass until the COVID-19 health emergency is under control. We are encouraging every member of the St. Thomas Catholic Community to be very proactive and take all measures necessary to ensure your health and the health of others by following the attached CDC guidelines and resources.
Our priority will continue to be the safety and wellbeing of every member of our community and the sanitation of our buildings so everyone can continue to worship together at St Thomas Aquinas.
If you have any questions, please feel free to give us a call to the office.
Blessings,
Father Dominic Duc Tran
Pastor
1719 Morris St, Philadelphia, PA 19145
(215) 334-2312
COVID-19 RESOURCES
If you have any of the following symptoms, DO NOT WAIT to get a COVID-19 test. Go directly to an emergency room:
- Trouble breathing
- Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
- New confusion
- Inability to wake or stay awake
- Bluish lips or face
Detailed Information:
English:
- https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/2019-ncov-factsheet.pdf
- https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/COVID19-symptoms.pdf
Spanish:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/2019-ncov-factsheet-sp.pdf
Indonesian:
Vietnamese:
- https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/COVID19-symptoms-vietnamese.pdf
- https://seamaac.org/covid-19-communityresources/
Testing Sites
**These sites will provide tests to people who have possible symptoms of COVID-19 (like cough, shortness of breath, fever, loss of smell, muscle aches, chills, sore throat). If you currently have a primary care doctor, you should call your doctor FIRST to discuss your symptoms if you think you might have COVID-19**
Philadelphia Department of Health – Health Center 2 – walk in
1700 Morris Street 2nd Floor (Broad and Morris)
Must call (215) 685-2933 to schedule an appointment for testing
They offer sliding scale visits for individuals without insurance (LOWEST COST)
Greater Philadelphia Health Action – Southeast Health Center
800 Washington Avenue
Must call (215) 271-4286 to schedule an appointment for testing
COVID-19 Testing Hours: Tuesdays and Thursday 3-4:30pm
They offer sliding scale visits for individuals without insurance
Greater Philadelphia Health Action – Carl Moore Health Center
3001 Dickinson St.
Philadelphia, PA 19146
Carl Moore Health Center Parking Lot
Must call (215) 271-4286 to schedule an appointment
COVID-19 Testing Hours: Mon 10AM – 12:30PM and Fri 1PM – 3:30PM
They offer sliding scale visits for individuals without insurance
Sayre Health Center (partnership with Penn Medicine) – walk up/drive up
227 S. 59th Street (in the parking lot behind Sayre High School)
Hours: M-F, 9-12:30 and 1-3:30
Call 215-474-4444 to register before arriving, can call from 8-5pm
No insurance necessary
Penn Medicine West Philadelphia testing site – walk up/drive up
4122 Market St.
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Must call (267) 414 2303 to schedule an appointment
You must have insurance to schedule a visit with a Penn doctor, but you can get a COVID-19 test at the testing site without insurance
CVS Drive-up site
1901 Oregon Avenue
Must register online: https://www.cvs.com/minuteclinic/clinic-locator/covid-19-testing/philadelphia-covid-2077.html
*** Must have either insurance card OR social security number ***