Rapid COVID Test Pop-Up Sites Coming To Astoria, LIC This Weekend

ASTORIA, QUEENS — As COVID testing lines crowd New York City streets amid the latest omicron-induced coronavirus uptick, city officials promised to double down on testing efforts — including an influx of pop-up sites, some of which are coming to northwest Queens.

This weekend, mobile testing sites are popping up in Astoria, Long Island City, and Woodside, in addition to other nearby sites in Jackson Heights and Elmhurst.

These temporary sites (outlined below), are part of Mayor Bill de Blasio's new approach to combating the latest coronavirus wave; the citywide COVID positivity rate reportedly doubled in three days, bolstered by the highly contagious omicron variant.

Accessible testing will be a cornerstone of the new approach, with Dr. Jonathan Jiménez of the city's Test & Trace Corps. calling free testing "essential" for all New Yorkers "regardless of their ability to pay or health insurance status."

Here's a map of where northwest Queens residents can find pop-up sites this weekend (there's a citywide list of sites here and here). Every site on the map reportedly offers rapid antigen testing for people ages 4 and up. Click on the site to see which days and times it is open:

In addition to these pop-up testing site, the Test & Trace Corps expanded all of its brick-and-mortar sites to seven days a week, and committed to handing out rapid tests at the locations so that people don't have to wait in line.

The city, which reportedly shuttered 20 COVID testing sites ahead of this recent surge, plans to open five more permanent locations, too.

Community groups, which have already been at the front lines of the city's vaccination campaign, will also play a part in the effort to curb this most recent wave.

The city's Test & Trace Corps, in partnership with other city agencies, plans to hand out 1 million KN95 masks and 500,000 rapid at-home tests to the groups.

"Empowering community-based organizations to distribute rapid tests to their communities enables trusted messengers to bring testing to all New Yorkers when and where testing is needed most," Dr. Jiménez said.

And, as usual, the city will continue with its vaccination and booster efforts, which remain the most effective way to curb hospitalizations and prevent death from COVID.