ROSLYN, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — Lengthy Island has the best COVID-19 positivity charge in New York at over 16%. In response, the state’s largest well being care supplier is rolling out extra testing websites.
CBS2’s Jenna DeAngelis visited one of many places in Nassau County on Tuesday.
As a result of spike in circumstances, massive testing tents are again, a scene Lengthy Island hasn’t seen in a very long time.
“It’s scary once more,” stated Rani Baki of Manhasset.
READ MORE: With COVID-19 Positivity Rate Soaring, Long Island Getting Proactive To Beat Back The Surge
However but a welcome sight for Baki, who’s involved he has COVID, however couldn’t discover a take a look at.
“The entire different pressing care facilities are like absolutely booked,” Baki stated.
“I went to 3 pressing cares and I wasn’t capable of get into any of them,” Manhasset resident Meghan Clarke added.
Each, nevertheless, got here throughout the brand new Northwell Health drive-thru appointment-only testing web site at Christopher Morley Park in Roslyn. They got a self-administered PCR take a look at, which, with a barcode system and an app, delivers next-day outcomes.
“The whole lot was good.. I got here in, I truly … they helped me up entrance to get an appointment and it took all of three minutes,” Clarke stated.
COVID VACCINE
Along with the Roslyn location, there’s a new drive-thru web site in Riverhead, plus present websites in New Hyde Park and Bohemia.
“These facilities are the most effective place to get examined. We have to depart the emergency division and pressing care facilities for many who want to hunt medical care,” stated Dr. Matthew Harris, a pediatric emergency doctor the medical director for Northwell Well being’s COVID-19 vaccine program.
READ MORE: Here’s What You Need To Know When Paying Big Money For Quicker COVID-19 Test Results
Harris stated together with an explosion of the extremely contagious Omicron variant, there was a spike in children with COVID.
“Nearly all of kids who’re admitted proper now are beneath the age of 5 and don’t at present qualify for vaccine,” Harris stated.
CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
Northwell Well being CEO Michael Dowling expressed frustration that 80% of these hospitalized are unvaccinated.
“Those that we now have on vents just about all are unvaccinated,” Dowling stated.
He stated COVID solely makes up about 12% of hospital quantity, reminding folks services will not be overwhelmed and to hunt routine medical care.
“The very last thing you wish to be doing is delaying care and having a worse scenario later,” Dowling stated.
So, whereas testing tents could remind you of 2020, he says we’re in a a lot better place.
“I’ve walked the flooring of the hospitals again in April and Could of final yr and I walked them at the moment. Large distinction. We’ve come a good distance,” Dowling stated.
Proper now, 500 assessments might be administered every day on the Roslyn web site and 350 per day on the location in Riverhead. Northwell stated it’s hoping to develop capability over time.
The Northwell testing lab has the capability to run as much as 100,000 assessments per day. If you wish to get a take a look at, the Northwell websites are solely open through the week. To make an appointment, please click here.
