Filmmaker Steven Soderbergh helps expand Wayne State’s mobile COVID-19 testing from Crain’s Detroit Business

The mobile COVID-19 testing fleet launched by Wayne State University and Wayne Health has been expanded thanks to acclaimed movie director Steven Soderbergh.

Soderbergh, who was in Detroit this fall to film “No Sudden Move,” donated $180,000 toward purchasing two Ford Motor Co.-made mobile health units, according to the university. The donation is being made on behalf of his film crew, which had received testing and health care services via the mobile units.

The two new vehicles were rolled out over the weekend at testing events in Warren and Detroit, according to a news release. Wayne State health officials are also offering flu shots, blood pressure screenings and HIV testing out of the vehicles, in addition to providing assistance related to Medicaid, unemployment, food and shelter.

The vehicles are also equipped with cold temperature-regulated storage to distribute COVID-19 vaccines once they are available to the public.

Launched in April, the mobile testing program now includes five mobile units. The three original vehicles have visited more than 200 locations and tested nearly 30,000 people, according to health officials. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has spent around $3.7 million on the program so far.

“It is gratifying to see our testing model being supported, expanded and adopted by others to enhance health and safety for more people in communities across the state, and it is exciting to see our mobile model pivoting to the delivery of the long-awaited COVID-19 vaccines,” Phillip Levy, MD, who leads the mobile testing program, said in the release.

Continue reading “Filmmaker Steven Soderbergh helps expand Wayne State’s mobile COVID-19 testing” from Crain’s Detroit Business.