Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Testing. Testing. Testing.
We hear it over and over again that the way out of the coronavirus pandemic is to test more and get a better understanding of the extent of the COVID-19 infection rate and some geography of where the hot spots may be.
An announcement Thursday will help increase the testing efforts across the western and southern tier regions of New York State as Rep. Tom Reed and Quest Diagnostics entered into a major agreement to dramatically boost testing capacity in the region.
Quest Diagnostics is prepared to provide the following Economic Development Council zones with an initial quantity of 3,000 tests per day: The Southern Tier, The Finger Lakes, and Western New York. This capacity can be deployed to specific locations or communities to quickly assess the emergence of new COVID hotspots as needed.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has outlined 12 points communities and regions must meet to allow for reopening to begin and the increased testing capacity satisfied 'point 8', says Reed.
"Wherever this needs to go, we will direct it", says Reed of the additional 3,000 tests that are being brought online to service a population totaling approximtaely 3 million.
Where will the tests be deployed? It's based on need, says Reed. "It is not as if one region will be allocated x, y, z. This is meant to be a supplemental source that can be turned to wherever it needs to go in order to meet that capacity."