New COVID-19 Testing Site To Open In Astoria Dec. 24

ASTORIA, QUEENS — A new COVID-19 testing site is scheduled to open at the Variety Boys and Girls Club in Astoria on Christmas Eve. The new location comes just one day after several western Queens leaders called on New York City officials to increase testing sites throughout the area.

“The rapid spread of the Omicron variant has created great new demand for Covid testing. Western Queens is underserved by the number of testing sites available, and we need more – now,” said Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris. “While I continue pushing for a stronger program of permanent test sites as soon as possible, I am glad my colleagues and I were able to secure this new location.”

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This test site will open Dec. 24 and Dec. 26-31 and run in conjunction with MetPath Laboratories. It will be open 8:30 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. daily, offering PCR tests. Results will be provided within 48 hours and insurance is not required.

Senator Gianaris, Assembly Member Mamdani, and Council Member Cabán have pushed the city for more testing in western Queens, including by making a mobile testing site located at Athens Square Park a permanent fixture.

Assembly Member Zohran K. Mamdani, Queens residents have been forced to spend hours waiting in the cold for COVID-19 tests — some have then been turned away.

"We have been calling on the city to remedy this immediately, and we continue to do so. But we cannot afford to wait any longer. We are in a crisis today, so we must respond today. I'm proud to have partnered with my colleagues, Variety Boys and Girls Club, and MetPath Laboratories to bring another testing site to Astoria. This will bring some much-needed respite to our constituents, though the true solution to this crisis continues to be the City rapidly scaling and staffing up a testing operation that meets the true demand of New Yorkers,” said Assembly Member Zohran K. Mamdani.

Meanwhile, Council Member Tiffany Cabán said the opening of the Astoria site at the Variety Boys and Girls Club is a vital step in the right direction.

“I’m extremely proud to have teamed up with Senator Gianaris and Assembly Member Mamdani to secure this sorely needed new testing site," she said.

Early evidence shows the omicron variant is spreading rapidly in New York City, according to the NYC Department of Health. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting that more than 90 percent of current cases in New York have been caused by omicron.