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As Thanksgiving approaches and New York City struggles with a second wave of COVID-19, New Yorkers are once again facing hours of waiting for coronavirus tests. Public health experts, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, have repeatedly warned individuals of the risks of leaving town and meeting with family members.
“The safest thing to do is not to travel,” Dr Dave Chokshi, the city’s public health commissioner, said on Monday.
But many blatantly ignore the advice. Over the weekend, more than 3 million travelers passed through U.S. airport checkpoints, the busiest weekend since the pandemic began in March. In New York City on a recent Friday, about 75,000 people were tested, an all-time high.
All of this suggests that, COVID be damned, Americans are not ready to give up the holidays.
To help readers navigate the tests, Gothamist recently released an in-depth guide to coronavirus testing. Here’s a (shorter) reminder of what you need to know.
A negative test does NOT guarantee that you will not infect others.
Testing negative for the virus should not be taken as a license to not wear a mask and ignore social distancing rules. There are two reasons for this: low virus levels may not be recorded on a test, and the test itself may be faulty.
That said, testing is a way to reduce risk as people prepare to gather around the Thanksgiving dinner table. So, those planning to see friends and family (despite begging public health experts to stay home!) Should definitely consider getting tested. In New York City, two coronavirus tests or a two-week quarantine are required for those planning to travel out of state. Research suggests that the optimal strategy is to avoid contact with other people for a week or more before taking a test.
Even after testing negative, people should still weigh other precautions, such as keeping the gathering outside and keeping it short.
Where is the best place for a quick, free test in New York?
New York City has nine rapid test clinics across Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens, and these should be your first choice for testing. Known as the “COVID Express Quickie” labs, these clinics offer PCR tests, known as the gold standard of coronavirus diagnostic tests, which are processed on site. Results can often be received within hours. Testing is also done by appointment only, which minimizes wait times and ensures social distancing.
The bad news is that appointments, which you can book by clicking here, go quickly. Monday morning, there didn’t seem to be any slots available. But those who have used the service recommend checking frequently as well as in the wee hours of the morning.
I have experienced long waiting times # COVID-19[FEMALE[FEMININE test results (I mean we all have) so let me bring you some good news: I had a test at 10am this morning at 100th Street on #UWS and got results less than 3 hours later. ??? pic.twitter.com/HYyHjPTEUg
– Kate Hinds (@katehinds) Aug 24, 2020
What are the other alternatives?
City health officials are urging New Yorkers to visit one of more than 70 testing sites operated by Health + Hospitals, the city’s public hospital system. But even at these test sites there were reports of long wait times, so be prepared to wait.
“Oh my God, this is crazy,” said Enn Singh, a 50-year-old Manhattan resident who stood in line Monday morning at Bellevue Hospital.
Singh, who said she was planning to fly to Guyana to visit her family, had been waiting since 7:30 a.m. At one point there were up to 200 people on First Avenue. “There are other places”, she said, before adding: “I guess it’s the same thing”,
Health officials have expressed confidence in the city’s ability to handle the growing demand. On Monday, Dr Chokshi announced the deployment of more mobile test units as well as physical sites. There are also plans to expand testing at major travel hubs like Penn Station and La Guardia and John F. Kennedy airports.
“Overall, urban sites have the capacity to cope with this surge in demand that we are seeing,” Chokshi said.
At some testing sites in the city, he said individuals are now receiving self-collection test kits where they can simply drop off their sample.
An important note, however: all city-run sites will be closed on Thanksgiving Day.
What about CityMD?
CityMD, which has 76 emergency care centers in all five boroughs and offers free testing to uninsured New Yorkers, has witnessed some of the longest lines, leading to horror stories from people spending four or more hours getting tested.
A CityMD spokesperson told Gothamist on Friday that demand for testing at their clinics “has never been higher.”
Also keep in mind that CityMD does not have its own laboratories. The company sends test samples to a national private laboratory for processing, which increases processing time.
What about antigens or rapid tests?
Most antigen tests are recommended for use only within the first seven days after symptoms of the coronavirus. In other words, they are ideally intended for use on people who are feeling sick. But testing can still help. They can show results incredibly quickly, often within minutes. New York City health officials have strategically deployed antigen testing in hot spots and to quickly test large numbers of people. In many cases, they simultaneously collect samples from individuals for PCR testing to ensure accuracy.
But those without symptoms should look for a PCR test first.
How long does it take New York residents to get their results?
Mayor Bill de Blasio’s office said on Friday that 80% of people tested in the city got their results within 48 hours.
Gwynne Hogan contributed reporting.
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