NY expanding testing, vaccination efforts
Hochul says state plans to expand testing, vaccination efforts
The line at a COVID-19 testing station in Times Square on Monday in Manhattan. Credit: Craig Ruttle
New York has received 5 million at-home COVID-19 testing kits, with another 5 million on the way by the start of the new year, state Director of Operations Kathryn Garcia said Monday.
Hochul said New Yorkers soon will be able to obtain the kits through an online portal, Newsday's Lisa L. Colangelo reports.
"Testing is a high, high [priority] because what we anticipate is more and more people are going to be testing positive," Hochul said during a visit to a vaccination site in upstate Warsaw earlier Monday. "We want them to, even if they're testing at home, just stay home, do not go out. Don't go to work. Don't go see your family. That's how we can start isolating the spread."
In addition, Hochul pledged $65 million to help county governments enforce mask protocols. She said localities can decide how to use the money, but some options could be purchasing masks and signs for businesses, and setting up call centers for people to file complaints.
Hochul said the state will open seven new testing sites, including one in Nassau County.
Figures released on Sunday showed the spike in new cases pushed the region’s seven-day positivity rate to the state’s highest. The 9.32% seven-day average of tests coming back positive on Saturday stood as the highest rate on Long Island since the 9.70% number reached on Jan. 8, 2021, which was the post-2020 peak.
Plus: Here's our guide for where to look for booster shots if you're trying to get one.
The chart below shows the number of new daily cases reported over the past month in New York City and in the state.
This chart shows the number of new coronavirus cases confirmed each day.
Search a map of new cases and view more charts showing the latest local trends in vaccinations, testing, hospitalizations, deaths and more.
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Erin Serpico is an assistant web producer who joined Newsday in November 2018. Originally from New Jersey, she now covers community events and produces local content for newsday.com while also helping run the homepage.
