Pawtucket And Central Falls Close BEAT-COVID Phone Hotline

PAWTUCKET, RI — A hotline option that let Pawtucket and Central Falls residents book a COVID-19 test or vaccine appointment via telephone will no longer be staffed as of June 30.

The hotline, which went live on April 30 of 2020, will remain active with prompts in four languages directing callers to various locations depending on their need, Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien said in a news release.

Grebien cited a decline in coronavirus cases and a decline in call volume. He said throughout the pandemic, the two cities have worked together, and that and the maintenance of a call center available in English, Spanish, Portuguese and Cape Verdean Creole was part of that effort.

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Grebien thanked the Rhode Island National Guard, the Rhode Island Department of Health, the company Collette Tours, and numerous community partners. He said the fight against the coronavirus is far from over.

“After so many months of dedication and as we begin to get back to normal, everyone remains just as committed as ever to continuing our robust outreach efforts to get our community vaccinated and keep our residents safe,” the Pawtucket mayor said.

Collette Tours CEO Dan Sullivan, Jr. said the company was honored to be part of the phone hotline effort. “I'd like to sincerely thank all the members of the BEAT COVID initiative for supporting such an important endeavor over the last 15 months,” Sullivan said. Since May of 2020, Collette led the enterprise with logistical support, information management services and phone banking.

“This multilingual line has been an amazing resource for our residents during the hardest times of the pandemic,” said Central Falls Mayor Maria Rivera. “We want to thank everyone involved who helped to make this a reality and are glad to continue to provide COVID-19 related services for our residents.”

The two cities were hard-hit by pandemic, with positive test rates well above the state average and a web of difficult outreach issues. Last year Grebien said that around 50,000 people in Pawtucket and Central Falls did not have a primary care doctor. A network of community organizations stepped up to participate in the CFP BEAT COVID-19 initiative.

Pawtucket residents who need information about vaccines and testing can still call 401-616-2205 or email covid19@pawtucketri.com. Central Falls residents should call 401-616-2451 or email wcasiano@centralfallsri.us. The R.I. Department of Health’s COVID-19 information line at 401-222-8022 is still available.

The COVID-19 testing site at 354 Pine St will remain open and active Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon. No appointment is necessary.