NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — Many individuals throughout New York state are nonetheless having hassle getting examined for COVID-19, at the same time as an increasing number of websites are coming on-line.
It’s a well-known sight throughout, lengthy strains outdoors testing facilities.
As CBS2’s Nick Caloway came upon Wednesday, entry to assessments actually is dependent upon the place you reside.
“It was tremendous, tremendous straightforward,” mentioned Jasara Peski of Montrose.
FIND TESTING SITES: Click here for New York City’s testing site locator, together with cellular websites and at-home appointments
That was the expertise in White Plains, the place the Westchester County Center opened as a mass testing site in an effort to fulfill the skyrocketing demand for testing because the Omicron variant of the virus spreads like wildfire.
“I mentioned to myself, ‘I higher go and, , swab myself’ for no matter purpose, as a result of I don’t need to take no probabilities,” White Plains resident Ray Rodriguez mentioned.
“I used to be stunned that there weren’t a ton of crowds. They simply opened up the provision the opposite day. It’s a brand new website. It was actually, very well carried out,” Peski added.
However simply 25 minutes south in Co-op City within the Bronx, the fact was very completely different.
“It has been horrific. It has been horrible,” resident Leticia Grate mentioned.
COVID VACCINE
Lengthy strains stretched round a Stat Care Pressing walk-in clinic, leaving individuals, together with 95-year-old Jean Fowler, ready for hours within the chilly.
“It’s simply the thought of ready on the road so lengthy, particularly for me at my age, it’s not likely good,” Fowler mentioned.
“They need to do higher. If you would like higher, you must do higher. You need to present individuals with the sources that they should get examined,” Grate added.
AVOID THE LINES: Click here for NYC Health+Hospitals testing wait times
Town lately opened testing websites in all 5 boroughs and the state opened 13 new testing websites on Wednesday, together with one within the Concourse part of the Bronx. That’s the place Caloway discovered individuals ready upwards of two hours and frustration boiling over.
“It’s throughout. Everyone’s ready, lengthy strains throughout,” one particular person mentioned.
CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
Well being specialists say testing might be key to getting children again to highschool subsequent week. Gov. Kathy Hochul once more made the push for dwelling assessments to be made accessible to college students as part of a test-to-stay program.
“And what that does is it makes positive that you’ve got the check to have the ability to ship dwelling with the kids, put them of their backpack if somebody assessments optimistic of their class. Let the dad and mom check them the following morning, and ship them again if it’s detrimental,” Hochul mentioned.
The state additionally opened a pop-up vaccine website Wednesday on the Bronx Zoo. The location will shut at 7 p.m. and reopen once more on Jan. 15.
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CBS2’s Nick Caloway contributed to this report.