New Yorkers can get tested for COVID-19 at home: how to do it

New Yorkers notified by contact tracers that they may have been infected COVID-19 have begun receiving free home testing kits. This is reported by the edition NBC New York.

NYC Debuts At-Home COVID is the latest measure taken in New York to stop the spread of the coronavirus. It is especially important on the eve of the upcoming holidays.

Who will receive the kits

Sets will be sent to New Yorkers after the first phone call with the contact tracer.

The set includes: thermometers, as well as cleaning agents and hand sanitizer; if you test positive for coronavirus, then also a pulse oximeter. Amanda Johnson from Health + Hospitals and Test and Trace Corps spoke about this on November 12.

How to take the test at home

Here's how to use the home testing kit:

1. Create an account using the activation codes provided inside the box.
2. For both nasal passages, one tampon is used, which is first inserted into one, and then into the other nasal passage by 1,5-2,5 cm and, pressing the tampon with the wing of the nose, the material is collected with rotational movements. When taking biomaterial, you will experience discomfort, but do not worry, it should be so, said Johnson.
3. After that, place the swab in the solution, making sure the box of liquid is not leaking. Place the box back inside the test bag and then into the prepaid mailing bag.
4. Once everything is ready, call the number indicated in the instructions for your package so that specialists can pick up the package and deliver it to the laboratory the same day.

Test results will be known within 48 hours.

“Regardless of the test results, it is very important that you stay connected. Your contact tracer is the only person to tell you when it's safe to get out of isolation or quarantine, Johnson said. - And, regardless of whether you took the test or not, whether you have a symptom, whether you were in close contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19, wait. Take Care is here to help you do whatever it takes to prevent the spread of coronavirus to the people you care about or the people you work with. ”

City Mayor Bill de Blasio said home testing kits are "critical" in preventing potential infections. However, he urged New Yorkers to stop traveling during the upcoming holidays.

On the subject: In New York, a new surge of COVID-19: what the authorities are ready to go to to stop the virus

Johnson noted that testing at home will be beneficial for both the population and for health workers, protecting them from contact with probable carriers of the virus. “When you know your status, you will take the right steps to protect your loved ones and colleagues,” Johnson said. "Testing will provide us with the information we need to fight the virus, to figure out how it spreads and stop it."

In addition, New Yorkers have the option to be quarantined separately from their families so as not to put them at risk of infection. To do this, the city has a special program under which individuals can go through free quarantine in local hotels.

The rate of positive tests for COVID-19

Currently, in 11 boroughs of New York, the rate of positive tests for coronavirus exceeds 4%. This was reported by the City Health Department. Moreover, every day from 2 to 8 November, there were reports of hundreds of new cases of the disease. This is a sure sign of a slow but steady spread of the deadly virus, officials say.

A new surge in COVID-19 prompted authorities to announce a new partial lockdown. On Wednesday, November 11, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that bars, restaurants and gyms are required to close no later than 22:00 pm every evening. It is also forbidden to gather in groups of more than 10 people.

An outbreak of coronavirus was recorded on Staten Island. Just three of the 12 ZIP codes on Staten Island recorded a 7-day positive test rate below 3% on average, according to the City Health Department: Graniteville (10303, 1,92%), Port of Richmond (10310, 2,63%) and St. George (10301, 2,8%).

Great Keels has a 5,44 percent positive test rate for coronavirus and 49 new cases, Tottenville has a 5,3 percent positive test rate and 27 new cases.

Despite the dire situation in Staten Island, the third and fourth-highest average 7-day positive activity in New York is in Queens. Richmond Hill recorded an average of 5,09 percent, with 47 new cases detected, while Dietmars Steinway had 4,84 percent and 55 reported infections.

As of Thursday morning, November 12, no cluster zones have been created in any of the settlements.

In seven other New York boroughs, a 7-day test positive was above 4%, according to the city's Department of Health.