Bayside Free COVID Testing This Week: Raymond O'Connor Park

BAYSIDE, QUEENS — Playgrounds across northeast Queens are turning into COVID-19 testing sites this week as coronavirus cases skyrocket citywide.

During the week of Jan. 3rd, New York City's Test and Trace Corps will offer rapid antigen testing at Bayside's Raymond O'Connor Park, located at 209-1 32nd Avenue, from 9:00 a.m to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Sunday.

The free site, which has been operating for a couple of weeks, offers testing to people over two-years-old and doesn't require ID or insurance cards.

Nearby, Telephone Playground in Oakland Gardens is offering PCR and rapid antigen testing this week, and other rapid tests will be administered at Pomonok Playground (find the full list of locations and times here). Other private sites, some of which require insurance or payment, can be found here.

These sites are remaining open as the omicron variant rapidly spreads across New York, bringing the statewide positive case count to 85,476 on Saturday — a staggering number that smashed the previous all-time record.

As of Dec. 25th, the average 17. 5 percent COVID positivity rate across Bayside remains lower than the borough wide or citywide rates — which both stood around 20 percent — but the return to school (and work for some) following the holiday break is sparking concerns about more cases.

Dozens of classrooms across the neighborhood are partially closed due to COVID exposures, DOE data shows as of Monday.

While teachers and parents expressed worries to NBC NY about the lack of school-wide testing, Mayor Eric Adams told New Yorkers to "fear not."

"Put your children in school. If it reaches that point that children should not be in school, we will make the proper call," Adams said.

To find a place to get tested for COVID-19, use the city's official map or visit a walk-in Health + Hospitals site. To get vaccinated or boosted, visit vaccinefinder.nyc.gov.