ALBANY (WCBS 880) — Eleven new rapid COVID-19 testing locations opened in New York City on Friday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced.
During his virtual press conference, the governor stressed the important role that testing plays in helping to reopen the state’s economy, saying: “I believe reopening is going to be accelerated by testing.”
Cuomo notes that they’ve already begun to allow various industries to reopen with rapid testing as a requirement, including in the reopening of nursing homes for visitations.
“Testing is the key to reopening quickly, prior to herd immunity – which is June/July,” the governor said.
However, in order to ensure everyone can be tested, the state needs more facilities to offer it. That’s why a total of 11 new rapid testing sites were set to open Friday in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx.
The majority of the new facilities – a total of eight – will be in Manhattan, while the other three boroughs will get one each.
Rapid tests will be available at $30 per test and results are available in as little as 30 minutes.
Cuomo said he understands the cost can be a concern but, noted that the test has several advantages.
“It’s an FDA-approved antigen test,” Cuomo said. “It gives you peace of mind and we can use it as a way to reopen the economy.”
Cuomo continued, saying rapid tests will also be used as part of New York State’s plan to reopen colleges and universities.
Under the state’s guidelines, colleges and universities will be required to test at least 25% of its total on-campus students, faculty and staff every week.
Those tests will be used to determine if the school needs to go on “pause,” Cuomo added. Colleges can remain open if their positivity rates do not exceed 5% during a rolling 14-day period.
Any institution that does not perform testing on at least 25% of its on-campus population will be required to go on pause if they have 100 individuals test positive for the virus during a rolling 14-day period.
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