The #IDIDMYPART Campaign and Beyoncé’s BeyGood Initiative Partner with King County to Offer Free COVID-19 Testing

This week, King County and local community organizations will partner with Ms. Tina Knowles Lawson’s #IDIDMYPART campaign and Beyoncé’s BeyGood initiative. The partnership will provide two days of free drive-through COVID-19 testing and essential supplies distribution in South King County cities, where Black and brown communities are suffering disproportionately from coronavirus. Attendees can receive zero charge on-site testing, as well as community care packages, diapers, and toiletries for free, thanks to Matthew 25 Ministries with sponsorship by Procter & Gamble. “I could not be prouder and elated that organizations in King County, Washington, stepped up in such a responsible way,” said Knowles Lawson. “It is imperative that we remember during these difficult times, when we are fighting for social justice, that we are also in a pandemic that is killing people at an alarming rate. We are dealing with two diseases that are disproportionately ravaging the Black community; COVID-19 and racism. We have to do all we can to combat both.” “Testing is important to know our status, to keep safe and to prevent spreading this horrible disease to our loved ones,” Knowles Lawson added. “Please take advantage of the free testing that is being offered in your city.”

Are you going get tested. or are you going let Queen B down?

Essential workers and people of color who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, or who have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 are encouraged to be tested, keeping in mind that individuals could have no symptoms yet still be contagious. Knowles Lawson launched the #IDIDMYPART campaign in April, 2020 with Beyoncé’s BeyGOOD initiative to promote and broaden testing in Black and brown communities that are suffering disproportionately during the coronavirus pandemic. “We’ve always known that Black and brown communities face barriers to quality healthcare compared to white communities,” said Hamdi Mohamed, King County Policy Advisor for the Executive Office of Equity and Social Justice. “We see it in high maternal mortality rates for Black women, we see it in disproportionately high populations of uninsured people in communities of color, and we see it now in the COVID-19 crisis, as people of color are being affected at a rate nearly two-and-a-half times higher than that of whites. At the County, we are partnering with Ms. Tina Knowles Lawson, BeyGood and local organizations like the Somali Health Board, to directly address the disparities we are witnessing and break down barriers to testing.” “The COVID-19 pandemic is deepening already-existing health disparities in communities of color, immigrants and refugees,” said Dr. Ahmed Ali, Somali Health Board Executive Director. “Through these community-led testing events, in partnership with the health systems, the Somali Health Board ensures that the most vulnerable members of our communities have access to testing opportunities within their own neighborhood.” Day 1: June 13, 2020, 11AM-5PM Where: HealthPoint Administration 955 Powell Ave SW Renton, WA 98057 Day 2: June 14, 2020, 11AM-5PM Where: SeaMar 31405 18th Ave S, Federal Way, WA 98003 More information is available online at http://ididmypartkingcounty.com. Note: If you can not make these testing dates, drive and walk up COVID-19 testing is available in Auburn on Tuesdays.

The above is a press release from King County. The Auburn Examiner has not independently verified its contents and encourages our readers to personally verify any information they find may be overly biased or questionable.