New York launches interactive map to find COVID testing sites near you
A screenshot of the map taken on 5.17.20
New York now has 700+ COVID testing sites across the state and is doing twice the amount of testing of the entire rest of the country. To make it easier for residents to get themselves tested, Governor Cuomo announced on Sunday the launch of a new interactive map that will show the testing sites closest to you. He also announced that the criteria to get tested has expanded to include those who would return to work in phase one.
The following New York residents are eligible for testing:
- Any individual who has COVID-19 symptoms
- Any individual who has had contact with a person known to be positive with COVID-19
- Any individual who is subject to a precautionary or mandatory quarantine
- Any individual who is employed as a health care worker, nursing home worker, first responder
- Any essential worker who directly interacts with the public while working
- Any individual who would return to workplace in Phase 1
On the state website, there is also a screening tool where New Yorkers can share their symptoms and pre-register for testing.
It’s quick, easy and painless. If I have time, you do too. pic.twitter.com/0ANntppYVK
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) May 17, 2020
The new mapping tool dovetails with the governor’s urging that more New Yorkers get tested. As he explained, many testing sites are not at full capacity; drive-through and walk-in locations are able to test 15,000 people per day but are currently only testing about 5,000. To show the public how quick and easy it is, Governor Cuomo received a COVID swab test live during his press briefing. “That is the whole test. I’m not in pain, I’m not in discomfort… There is no reason why you should not get the test,” he said when it was complete.
He also announced a new partnership between New York State and CVS that will bring testing to more than 60 CVS pharmacies across the state, with each location able to perform at least 50 tests per day. CVS has a separate online resource where one can enter his or her zip code and find the closest testing locations. Keep in mind that CVS requires advanced registration for appointments.
Also on Sunday, NYC Mayor de Blasio announced that all 123 CityMD sites citywide will offer walk-in diagnostic COVID-19 testing, tripling the number of city testing sites. The city is currently performing 20,000 tests per day.
To put New York’s testing efforts into perspective, the state is performing 7.1% total diagnostic tests by population. In the U.S., the state that comes next is Washington at 3.5%, followed by California at 3.9%. More shocking is that New York’s percentage tops the entire nation of Italy, which is at 4.9%, Canada at 3.4%, and the United States at 3.3%.
You can explore the state’s map here >>
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