President Biden said he would set up new federal coronavirus testing sites across the country to reduce the Omicron strain of the coronavirus. The first of those sites will open in New York City before Christmas.
The move comes after New York City officials announced they would open an additional 23 coronavirus testing sites by the end of the week to try to meet rising demand as people race to learn their status for vacation travel and indoor gatherings.
“Testing helps us on so many levels,” Mayor Bill de Blasio told reporters Monday. “It helps to make sure everyone knows where they stand. On the very personal level, when you get tested, you know what’s going on, you know what to do.”
By the end of this week, New Yorkers will have 112 city-run locations across all five boroughs and open in a variety of settings, including health facilities, schools, libraries and community centers.
The city estimates that more than 130,000 people are tested every day at the city’s sites, doubling the number three weeks ago. New Yorkers also have access to hundreds of private testing locations across the city.
Here’s how to get tested for Covid-19 in New York.
Who can be tested?
Essentially everyone, including people who don’t live in New York, regardless of whether they have Covid-19 symptoms. But certain sites have minimum age requirements, which are listed on the city’s coronavirus portal.
Where can I go?
You can find a list of city-owned and privately-run test locations on the city portal. You can also text “COVID TEST” to 855-48.
Each site should indicate which tests are available and when the results can be expected. The portal also indicates whether an appointment is required to visit a particular location and whether there are other requirements such as a screening to see if you have been recently exposed to the virus or a doctor’s prescription for a test.
The hours per location are also stated. The NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health locations and saliva self-test sites will stop testing Friday at 2 p.m. All mobile test sites will be closed on Christmas Day.
While city-run sites are free, some private testers charge a fee. Bad weather can also force some locations to close. City officials encourage people to call a testing site before going.
How do I know if a private testing site is trustworthy?
The New York State Department of Health is responsible for regulating all private testing sites, including New York City sites.
But certain test sites have come under closer scrutiny recently. New York Attorney General Letitia James issued a warning Monday to LabQ Diagnostics, a Brooklyn-based lab with testing sites in the city, about false advertising. The company’s website advertises test results within 48 hours, but some people have reported waiting more than 96 hours.
How long do I have to wait?
Many New Yorkers have seen the lines at test sites meander around blocks, and the wait can sometimes exceed two hours.
The coronavirus pandemic: important things to know
This dashboard allows you to track wait time at NYC Health + Hospitals locations. For example, the site lists test locations with no reported wait time and sites with wait times greater than two hours. Employees aim to update expected wait times every two hours.
How do I find a home test?
New Yorkers with certain underlying health conditions or those over the age of 65 can schedule a home appointment by calling 929-298-9400, seven days a week, between 9am and 7pm
Home tests can also be ordered online through one of five different suppliers: Hims & Hers, LabCorp’s Pixel, QuestDiagnostics’ QuestDirect, Vault Health, or Zeel. The cost of the tests depends largely on what insurance companies cover. In some cases, a screening must be completed to verify that you have been recently exposed to the virus before an order can be placed.
Test kits are hard to find in pharmacies and other stores, and some retailers charge higher prices. The attorney general’s office on Tuesday condemned price gouging and asked people to report it.
What should I do if I test positive?
You must quarantine for 10 days and contact your medical provider or call the city on 1-212-COVID-19. The New York City Test & Trace Corps provides assistance to those who test positive, such as a hotel room to quarantine, food or medical support such as medicines and mental health care.
The infected should try to determine when they may have been exposed and contact people they had contact and close contact with during that time. The state health department recommends contacting people you have been in close contact with, starting two days before your symptoms appeared — or if you’re asymptomatic, two days before taking your test.
They can hear from a contact tracer that can notify people who may have interacted with them and connect people with resources.