New York officials focus efforts on maximizing testing resources, including in-home kits20 Dec 2021 19:28
From CNN’s Laura Ly and Mirna Alsharif
New York officials are focusing on maximizing Covid-19 testing capabilities, including in-home tests for the public as Covid-19 case upticks put a strain on available testing resources.Â
Both the New York governor and New York City mayor said they expected case counts to go up for the next few weeks as the holiday season is in full swing.Â
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said Monday that the city is testing “more people than ever” for Covid-19 and that city officials are working with federal officials and the private sector to get more testing supplies.Â
“Not a surprise. We’re finding the supplies are becoming a challenge because all over the country, testing is going up suddenly and we’re seeing a supply problem that needs to be addressed. And we’re working on that. We’re working with the White House, working with the private sector, to get more supplies,” de Blasio said.
The mayor added that city officials are also working to get more in-home test kits to offer to people as an alternative testing option.Â
“Wherever possible, we’re trying to – particularly at our city-run sites – if there’s a long line, offer people the alternative of giving them an in-home test that they can take home with them. Again, we need to get that supply up quickly to allow that to be an option for more and more people,” de Blasio said.
Meanwhile, New York Governor Kathy Hochul said that the state continues to order tests, with one million kits just arriving, one million coming next week, and one million coming the week after that.
Hochul also announced an "expansive testing program" on Monday, where state residents will be able to order Covid-19 testing kits through a portal to test themselves at home.
"We're setting that up as we speak," said Hochul. "Focusing on areas where there is a lower compliance rate because what we want to do is make sure that people show symptoms, that they get tested, or if they get exposed, they get tested because this is how we can stop the spread from getting even more out of control."
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