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Desert AIDS Project Opens COVID-19 Clinic

WHAT: COVID-19 Clinic Open at Desert AIDS Project

WHERE: 1695 North Sunrise Way in Palm Springs

CONTACT: Jack Bunting (760) 656-8472 jbunting@desertaidsproject.org

WHY: To mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and alleviate suffering in our community.

WHEN: Clinic is open Mondays through Fridays from 8am – 5pm

Important Resources:

· DAP’s HOTLINE for COVID-19 Information and consultation is: (760) 992-0407

· Learn more about DAP’s COVID-19 Clinic at: https://bit.ly/2vvnhDU

· For a Q&A on COVID-19 at: https://bit.ly/2TT5qQG

· Learn more about the new healthcare clinics at DAP at: https://bit.ly/2Qnxppn

Palm Springs, CA — March 16, 2020 — Desert AIDS Project opened a COVID-19 Clinic today on its campus, created to treat and test clients struggling with severe symptoms of Coronavirus.

Before being seen at the clinic, clients must be screened and referred by a DAP clinician.

DAP is NOT offering on-demand testing for a-symptomatic clients or those with mild symptoms of illness. Anyone who thinks they might be suffering from COVID-19 should call (760) 992-0407 for information and the opportunity to talk to DAP clinician about their symptoms.

The CDC and DAP leadership are reminding people that for mild or moderate symptoms of respiratory illness, the best prescription is to stay home and use over-the-counter medications.

Only people with the following symptoms will be examined at DAP by a clinician for possible COVID-19:

1) greater than a 100.4 fever 2) cough 3) shortness of breath.

For the larger Coachella Valley community, DAP believes this move will equate to saving lives and providing some mitigation to an overwhelmed healthcare system, including emergency rooms and hospitals. By opening the clinic today as an emergency response to this dire health crisis, DAP stands to help halt new infections of COVID-19 in our area and prevent deaths.

This measure, as well as heightened hygiene and social distancing, are important in fighting this epidemic, but the window is closing.

“How we act in the next two-to-three weeks are critical to flatten out the curve of this pandemic,” said David Brinkman, CEO.

DAP has launched its COVID-10 Clinic without the budget to do so, and has just started a campaign to raise funds. The anticipated cost at least $575,000 in the coming months to provide this service to the community.

Currently, 7,000 people in the Coachella Valley get primary and specialty care from DAP, plus other services like behavioral health, dentistry, wellness, and social services.

About Desert AIDS Project
Desert AIDS Project (DAP) is a Federally Qualified Health Center in Palm Springs, CA offering DAP Total Care – a combination of medical, dental, counseling, social services, support groups, alternative therapies, in-house pharmacy and lab, and other health and wellness services. DAP’s sexual health clinic, The DOCK, offers STD testing and treatment, Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP), and HIV and HCV testing. DAP’s Get Tested Coachella Valley campaign, the nation’s first region-wide free HIV testing and access to care initiative, was recognized by the White House for helping to bring about an AIDS-free future. DAP has earned a “Four Star” rating from Charity Navigator for the sixth consecutive year – landing DAP in the top 6% of nonprofits rated. The distinction recognizes that we exceed industry standards in terms of our financial health, accountability, and transparency.

Visit www.desertaidsproject.org, www.thedockclinic.org, and www.gettestedcoachellavalley.org to learn

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