News

As New York City continues to fight the omicron surge of COVID-19 cases, the NYC Test & Trace Corps today welcomed the first deployment of CDC’s Increasing Community Access to Testing Team (ICATT) mobile testing units. By next week, the units will provide an additional 25,000 PCR tests per week to communities most in need of convenient, no-cost testing. The additional testing capacity will help New York City continue to meet testing demand, which has reached record levels at more than 150,000 tests per day.

“As we gather for the winter holidays and with COVID-19 cases on the rise due to the emergence of the Omicron variant, testing is more important than ever,” said Dr. Henry Walke, lead of CDC’s Expansion of Screening & Diagnostics Task Force. “Testing can help people determine if they have COVID-19 – regardless of whether they have symptoms – and if they are at risk of spreading the virus to others. CDC is eager to assist communities with mobile testing options to ensure anyone can get tested.”

“We’re grateful for the ongoing support the Federal government has provided NYC during this pandemic to ensure we have the necessary resources to diagnose and treat this terrible virus,” said NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Mitchell Katz, MD. “The impacts we’re seeing from the Omicron variant is further proof that we’re not out of the woods with COVID-19, but the additional testing capacity provided by President Biden and the CDC allows us to detect more of the infection and help New Yorkers heal and stop the spread.”

“We thank President Biden and the CDC for their quick, decisive action to support our testing capacity in New York City,” said Senior Vice President of Ambulatory Care and Population Health at New York City Health + Hospitals and NYC Test & Trace Corps Executive Director Dr. Ted Long. “The deployment of additional units will provide even greater access to convenient, no-cost testing for New Yorkers as they look out for the wellbeing of their family, friends and neighbors by getting tested to break chains of transmission and stop the spread of COVID-19. Together with our federal partners, we will continue to keep New York City safe and defeat this latest wave.”

Starting Wednesday, December 22, New Yorkers will be able to access CDC mobile testing units here:

• Travers Park
  76-9 34^th
  Queens, NY 11372
  9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

On Thursday, December 23rd, New Yorkers will be able to access CDC mobile testing at the following locations:

• Travers Park
  76-9 34^th
  Queens, NY 11372
  9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Queens Valley Playground
  Corner of 137 Street & 77 Ave.
  Flushing NY 11367
  9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Helen Marshall Playground
  100 St & 24th Ave.
  East Elmhurst, NY 11369
  9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Additional CDC ICATT mobile testing units will be added next week. Please visit NYC.gov/covidtest for the most up to date information on where testing is available in your area.

Contact: Press Office, 212-788-3339

About Test & Trace Corps

The Test & Trace Corps is the City’s comprehensive effort to test, trace, and provide support for every case of COVID-19 and every person exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19. Through a partnership with NYC Health + Hospitals and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the Test & Trace Corps allows the City to immediately isolate and care for those who test positive for the virus and then rapidly track, assess, and quarantine anyone who may have been exposed. To help all New Yorkers safely separate at home and monitor their health status, the Take Care pillar of the Test & Trace Corps also offers free hotel rooms with wraparound services for New Yorkers who are unable to safely separate in their own homes. For those safely separating at home, contact tracers perform daily calls and conduct in-person visits as necessary. These calls allow tracers to gauge the progress of cases, ensure proper compliance with separation protocol, and connect people to more supportive services as necessary. Today, 98% of all COVID-19 cases and 94% of contacts reported following isolation and quarantine requirements.

About NYC Health + Hospitals

NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest public health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city’s five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system’s trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlus health plan—all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 42,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NYCHealthSystem or Twitter at @NYCHealthSystem.

About CDC and ICATT

CDC works 24/7 protecting America’s health, safety and security. Whether disease start at home or abroad, are curable or preventable, chronic or acute, or from human activity or deliberate attack, CDC responds to America’s most pressing health threats. CDC is headquartered in Atlanta and has experts located throughout the United States and the world.

As part of CDC’s COVID-19 response, the Increasing Community Access to Testing Team (ICATT) provides no-cost testing to the public with a focus on under-served populations and areas with substantial or high COVID-19 transmission rates. Partners include chain and independent pharmacies and contract companies to set up surge sites.