ALBANY — New York State will continue to distribute more than 20 million COVID-19 over-the-counter tests across the state through the spring to bolster ongoing efforts to contain the virus.
“As we’ve seen throughout the pandemic, test kits are a critical tool in the fight to stop the spread of COVID-19 and prevent exposure to others,” said Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday. “While our numbers remain low, now is the time to ramp up the distribution of tests and build up our stockpile so we can bolster our preparedness for the future to protect our communities, and safely move forward through this pandemic.”
The state will continue to provide over-the-counter test kits to nursing homes, adult care facilities, and schools, and will partner with elected officials for continued distribution to the public, during the next few months to identify new COVID-19 cases.
This includes one million tests to schools outside of New York City every other week until the end of the school year. At home tests have proven to be an invaluable tool for identifying cases and protecting our communities, officials said, adding they were responsible for finding at least 15,000 positive cases among students and staff the week after the winter break alone.
In addition to these continued distributions, the state is increasing distribution points for test kits. The state will partner with local officials across New York, the announcement said, to increase access to tests for the general public. An additional 500,000 tests will be made available to various food banks and senior centers throughout the state, based on request.
More than 54 million tests have already been distributed throughout New York since the beginning of the year, including nearly 30 million tests to schools, 12.5 million tests to nursing homes and adult-care facilities, and more than 10 million tests to local officials for public distribution in their respective communities, the announcement said.
The upcoming distribution efforts follow the procurement of more than 90 million rapid tests in recent months. Of the more than 90 million tests procured, approximately 20 million tests have been stored to help prepare for any potential surges.
“This winter Governor Hochul got test kits into New Yorkers hands to combat the Omicron surge,” said Jackie Bray, commissioner of the State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services. “These kits helped keep all of us safe by identifying cases early so that New Yorkers could take action to stop the spread. Our team at DHSES will continue to distribute millions of additional test kits to New Yorkers this spring to help us identify future infections and interrupt transmission early and will maintain the state’s stockpile of this essential tool in case of a future surge.”
“Testing has been a critical tool to curb the spread of COVID-19, and the state continues the important work of getting test kits to New Yorkers,” said State Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett. “The distribution of rapid tests has been a hallmark of Governor Hochul’s winter surge plan, and testing continues to help our classrooms, workplaces, and communities at increased risk stay healthy and safe. If New Yorkers have had COVID-19 exposure, experience symptoms, or have recently traveled, they should take advantage of these free at-home tests being distributed statewide thanks to the hard work of our partners at the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services.”
