Mayor de Blasio Announces More Testing Sites and Antibody Tests for New Yorkers

June 25, 2020

New Yorkers should visit nyc.gov/covidtest to find the testing site closest to them

NEW YORK–With the city now in phase 2 of reopening, Mayor de Blasio announced today that NYC Health + Hospitals will now offer free COVID-19 antibody tests at its 11 acute care facilities and select Gotham Heath sites. In a push to expand testing citywide, the City will also open new testing sites through a partnership with CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort), the emergency relief nonprofit organization co-founded by Sean Penn and Ann Lee, and SOMOS, with a focus on serving vulnerable communities in neighborhoods hardest hit by the virus.

"As we venture outdoors to dine and enjoy the sunshine, we can't forget that widespread testing is still the key to reopening our city safely," said Mayor Bill de Blasio. "Getting a test should be simple, fast, and convenient, which is why we are bringing antibody and swab tests to the doorstep of every New Yorker–especially those in communities hardest hit by the virus."

NYC Health + Hospitals will now offer free antibody testing for New Yorkers at its 11 acute care facilities for New Yorkers who have not had COVID-19 symptoms or a positive COVID-19 tests within the past two weeks. Beginning June 29th, antibody testing will expand to 11 Gotham Community Health Center sites as well.

Tests are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM–4:00 PM on a walk-in basis. Patients will receive their testing results within 24 hours electronically via the public hospital system's electronic health record system, MyChart. Testing is available free of charge and at no-additional cost to the patient. Patients with insurance will be asked for their insurance information, but will pay no copays.

With an emphasis on serving seniors in partnership with NYCHA and DFTA, CORE will be operating mobile testing units in the Bronx on June 27th, Manhattan on July 2-3rd, and Queens on July 6-7th. Registering for an appointment is encouraged and can be completed here. Walk- in appointments will be accommodated as well.

CORE testing sites will be operating at the following locations and hours:

Queens

Long Island City High School (Permanent Testing Site)
14-30 Broadway, Queens, NY 11106
Mondays-Saturdays, 10:00 AM–3:00 PM

New York Housing Authority's Ravenswood (Mobile Testing Unit)
Circle at the rear of 35-36 21st Street (across from Trade Faire), Queens, NY 11106
Monday-Tuesday, July 6-7, 9:00 AM–1:00 PM

The Bronx

156 W 164th Street, Bronx, NY 10452 (Mobile Testing Unit)
Saturday, June 27, 1:00 PM–4:00 PM

Manhattan

Vladeck Houses (Mobile Testing Unit)
356 Madison Street, New York, NY, 10002
Thursday-Friday, July 2-3, 12:00 PM–4:00 PM

In a partnership with SOMOS, the City will also open 20 testing sites in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Queens. Sites will provide both diagnostic and antibody tests. To encourage more New Yorkers to get tested, sites will operate out of pediatric clinics to encourage families to get tested together, with an additional 30 sites opening over the next few weeks. Clinics will operate from 9:00 AM–1:00 PM, Monday through Friday, with some clinics offering weekend hours. Appointments can be made by calling 1-833-SOMOS-NY (#2 to make an appointment)

"All New Yorkers should get a Covid-19 nasal swab test and an antibody test as this will be critical to providing patients and governments the essential information they need to help the local economies reopen," said NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Mitchell Katz, MD. "We are committed to providing all New Yorkers with necessary information about their health and their potential exposure to Covid-19.

"As an immigrant physician who has been on the frontlines treating immigrant patients since day one of this pandemic, I have seen firsthand the devastation that COVID has brought to communities of color. We must remain vigilant to prevent the virus from spreading through our communities again," said Dr. Ramon Tallaj, Founder and Chairman of SOMOS Community Care. "And as this academic year comes to a close and schools look to bringing students back in some capacity this fall, testing children for COVID will be an essential part of that process. By setting up testing sites in pediatric offices, families can bring in their children knowing they'll be able to see one of our network pediatricians they trust and receive quality care if they need it."

"Free, easily-accessible COVID and antibody testing is critical to keeping our neighborhoods healthy, and SOMOS was the first to bring antibody testing to New York City for essential workers and their families. We are proud to partner with Mayor de Blasio and his administration to bring even more testing to the areas that need it most," Dr. Henry Chen, President of SOMOS. "By opening up testing sites in pediatric clinics with the Mayor's support, we hope to encourage families to get tested together so they can stay safe and find peace of mind in this difficult moment."