NEW YORK – New York City will open two rapid COVID-19 testing units this week, free of charge, at two NYCHA public housing locations as part of the initiative to reach the most vulnerable communities.
As COVID-19 cases rise this holiday season, NYC Test & Trace Corps, in partnership with Rapid Reliable Testing (RRT), a subsidiary of Ambulnz, announced this launch to reach more communities that need free testing.
“New Yorkers are listening to our call to get tested, but with winter coming, our battle against COVID-19 deepens and we need everyone to continue to get tested frequently,” said Dr. Ted Long, CEO of NYC Test & Trace Corps. “With the start of rapid tests on mobile units, in association with Ambulnz / Rapid Reliable TestingWe are providing faster and more convenient options at no cost to the communities that most need this service. “
These fast mobile units will be deployed week by week to those communities where the need is greatest with plans to expand to additional units in the coming weeks.
The two new rapid antigen test units will be deployed at the following locations this week through January 3:
NYCHA Castle Hill
- Registration address: 2144 Seward Avenue, Bronx, NY, 10473
- Dates it will be on: December 28 – 31, January 2 – 3
- Hours: Monday to Thursday and Saturday and Sunday. Each of those days from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm
- Who can do it: for ages 4 and up
NYCHA West Brighton I y II
- Address: Parking lot entrance at 820 Henderson Ave, Staten Island, NY, 10310
- Dates it will be on: December 28 – 31, January 2 – 3
- Hours: Monday to Thursday and Saturday and Sunday. Each of those days from 8:00 a.m. m. at 7:00 pm
- Who can do it: for ages 4 and up
What is needed to take the test?
No appointment is needed and interpretation is available for different languages, including Spanish.
How long do the results take?
Results are obtained in approximately 15 minutes.
Test & Trace Corps, which is already associated with Rapid Reliable Testing, is in the process of deploying a fleet of 40 mobile units that is slated for mid-February to provide standard PCR testing in New York City. Like the existing mobile units of Test & Trace Corps, these teams are deployed throughout the city and provide testing at no cost to New Yorkers.
Rapid Reliable Testing has performed more than 10,000 tests for Test & Trace Corps to date, most of them standard PCR tests.
Rapid, or “point of care,” can be molecular, also known as CRP, or antigen. Mobile RRT units offer antigen testing using a more comfortable nasal “short swab” for specimen collection, and positive test results are highly accurate. El Test & Trace Corps confirms any negative rapid test result with a molecular test performed in a laboratory.
The mobile rapid tests will enhance the current city-wide testing capacity of 120,000 tests per day, offered at more than 300 sites throughout the city. Each mobile test unit can perform up to 300 tests per day.
The full mobile testing schedule for this week can be found at nyc.gov/covidtest, where you can also find other testing sites near you at no cost. You can also call the hotline for NYC Test & Trace Corps at 212-COVID19. Check test wait times at city sites before visiting testandtrace.nyc.
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