Walk-in Covid testing now available at 7 subway stations across NYC
Photo: Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit on Flickr
Pop-up coronavirus testing sites are now open at seven subway stations across New York City. After opening two walk-in PCR testing sites at Grand Central and Times Square stations last week, Gov. Kathy Hochul and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority opened additional sites at five subway stations, including Penn Station, Broadway Junction in Brooklyn, East 180th Street in the Bronx, and Roosevelt Avenue and Jamaica-179th Street in Queens. The state is currently experiencing a record surge in new Covid cases, which officials are attributing to the highly contagious Omicron variant.
“The recent COVID surge means we need to maximize the number of testing locations, including within the mass transit system,” MTA Acting Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said in a statement. “Thanks to Governor Hochul, all agencies of government are joining forces to ensure that New Yorkers can get a vaccine, a booster, or a test quickly, and conveniently.”
As of last Thursday, the state-funded, walk-in PCR testing is available at the following seven subway stations:
- Times Square-42nd Street, Monday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
- Grand Central Terminal, Monday through Sunday, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Penn Station, Monday through Sunday, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Broadway Junction, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- East 180th Street, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Roosevelt Avenue, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Jamaica–179th Street, Monday through Friday, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
According to the governor, the testing will be available to everyone, including visitors to New York, with no appointment necessary.
The testing sites at Times Square and Grand Central are also Covid vaccination sites and offer booster shots. According to the governor, two more testing sites will open at stations in Upper Manhattan and the Bronx soon.
“Those of you in New York City – get back on the subway, take the subway,” Hochul said during a press briefing on Friday. “We’re making sure that this is a place you can easily get tested. We’re launching two more [sites] and we’re working on the details with Upper Manhattan and the Bronx, and that’s coming out shortly.”
Find a testing site near you here or by texting “COVID TEST” to 855-48. Health and Hospitals sites are listed here.
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Editor’s note: The original version of this story was published on December 23, 2021, and has since been updated with new information.
