Western Queens Needs More COVID-19 Testing Sites, Leaders Say

ASTORIA, QUEENS — Local and state officials are calling for New York City to add more testing sites throughout western Queens to handle the increase in demand due to the rapidly-spreading Omicron variant during this holiday season.

“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 State Sen. Michael Gianaris. “I urge the city to create a stronger program of permanent test sites — and do so quickly — so we can keep all our neighbors safe.”

Gianaris along with Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani, and Council Member Tiffany Cabán held a news conference Tuesday to also push for a mobile testing site located at Athens Square Park a permanent fixture.

Because western Queens has few permanent sites and limited temporary sites, residents are waiting anywhere from four to six hours in line to be tested, state and local leaders said.

“Our neighbors are spending hours in the cold, waiting for COVID tests. Some are then turned away, others never even receive their results. We are in a crisis today, so we must respond today. Astoria needs more test sites and we need to meet the need now,” said Assembly Member Zohran K. Mamdani.

"Receiving reports that my constituents, who are trying to do the right thing by getting tested, are being forced to wait upwards of four hours in the cold, only to then wait for several days to get a result back, is heartbreaking and infuriating. This spike in infections didn’t exactly sneak up on us; the outgoing mayor has had plenty of time to ramp up our capacity, rather than shuttering H+H testing sites. We need more sites now, to keep our loved ones safe this holiday season,” said Council Member Tiffany Cabán.

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.

Hospitals admitted 200 patients Monday — a big increase from Nov. 1 when the city averaged 34 hospitalizations a day, data shows.

SEE ALSO:

• NYC Hospitalizations Tick Up As COVID Surges, Omicron Spreads
• NYC Offers $100 Incentive For COVID Vaccine Booster Shots
• Omicron COVID Variant Is 92% Of New Cases In NY: CDC
• Mayor's Inauguration Ceremony Postponed Amid Omicron Wave: Adams