As the New Jersey Department of Health tracks an uptick of COVID-19 cases in several counties across the state, Paterson health officials started to plan for a potential second wave of the virus in their city.

“We have to be prepared for a potential second wave, because we don’t want the health commissioner to come in here to address an uptick in cases,” says Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh.

The city has repurposed its Medical Mobile Unit – formerly used for mobile HIV and AIDS testing – as a mobile COVID-19 testing center. The mobile unit was funded by the city and begins testing Oct. 5.

The exact daily location of the unit within each ward is still to be determined. All insurances will be accepted and the testing will be free for those without testing as well.

LabCorp will analyze the tests and expect results within 24-48 hours. The mobile unit is designated for Paterson residents, but non-Paterson residents will not be turned away. So far, 344 Paterson residents have died from the virus. But according to city health officials, positive cases and deaths have remained low over the last couple months.

"At the peak of the pandemic, Paterson had in one day - April 16 - 262 confirmed COVID-19 cases. Yesterday, but we had five. We want to keep it that way and want to get to zero eventually,” Sayegh says.

The Medical Mobile unit will be out in the community from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.

City leaders plan to open a second Medical Mobile Unit for coronavirus testing soon, paid through federal CARES Act funding.