New York, NY
The NYC Test & Trace Corps today announced the addition of rapid testing service to its COVID-19 testing site at Terminal 5 at John F. Kennedy International Airport, and the continuation of a pilot program with JetBlue to provide self-testing kits to help customers on select flights comply with New York State’s quarantine requirements during the holiday season.
“We urge all New Yorkers to stay home and avoid gatherings this holiday season, but for those who must travel, we need to make access to testing at no cost as easy as possible,” said NYC Test & Trace Corps Executive Director Dr. Ted Long. “The addition of rapid testing to our site at JFK Airport and our efforts to offer more testing for air travelers in partnership with JetBlue ensure we are not letting down our guard as New York City battles the second wave of COVID-19.”
See more: Covid 19 testing site jfk
The JFK testing site will have capacity to provide approximately 250 rapid point-of-care molecular tests per day, with results available in as little as 15 minutes. Those who test positive will be immediately connected with a contact tracer for accelerated contact tracing, and receive information about free resources to safely separate at home or in a free hotel room provided by the Take Care program of the Test & Trace Corps.
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The Test & Trace Corps operates the JFK site in partnership with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and JetBlue. The site, which opened last month, offers walk-in service for all at no cost, seven days a week, from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m., and primarily serves 40,000 essential airport and airline workers, in addition to travelers.
To help those who must travel comply with New York State’s mandatory quarantine, the Test & Trace Corps is also continuing its pilot program with JetBlue to distribute COVID-19 self-testing kits to customers, following a successful first round of distribution during the Thanksgiving travel period. The kits from Fulgent Genetics will be distributed from December 19-23 to those with domestic itineraries that also include a return to New York. Customers keep the kit until they are within 72 hours of their return to New York, and then self-administer and mail in the test to satisfy New York State’s pre-arrival testing requirement, with results returned within 48 hours of receipt by the lab.
“The Test & Trace Corps is constantly looking for new ways to bring fast and easy testing to New Yorkers at no cost, and we are proud to increase the options with the start of rapid testing at JFK Airport and through our ongoing partnership with JetBlue,” said NYC Test & Trace Corps Chief Operating Officer Chris Keeley. “During this holiday season, we urge you not to travel if you can avoid it. If you must travel, do it responsibly. Help keep your loved ones and your fellow passengers as safe as possible by getting tested before you leave, while you are at your point of destination, and after you return.”
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With the addition of rapid testing at the JFK site, the Test & Trace Corps continues an expansion that has tripled the number of its rapid testing sites across the city over the past two months. Rapid point-of-care testing is now offered at nearly 20 Test & Trace Corps locations, including LaGuardia Airport’s Terminal B garage (Level 1). Additional rapid testing service will open in communities of high need in early 2021.
To find a testing site near you, visit daypg.com/covidtest or call the NYC Test & Trace Corps hotline at 212-COVID19. Check wait times at City testing sites by visiting daypg.com.
New Rapid Point of Care Testing Service JFK Airport Located next to the Terminal 5 AirTrain Station Queens, NY 11371 Monday – Sunday, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. Rapid Molecular Testing Available Here
