Great Neck Gets Free, Rapid, Drive-Through Coronavirus Testing

GREAT NECK, NY — Free, rapid, drive-through coronavirus testing launched in Great Neck following a spike in COVID-19 cases, and the tests are available regardless of immigration status, Nassau County officials said Monday.

Testing began Monday at North Shore Hebrew Academy on Cherry Lane. The site will open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Appointments are required and can be made by calling 1-833-4CARENY (833-422-7369).

The site comes after Great saw 24 new coronavirus cases from Nov. 4 to Nov. 6, an increase of 5.3 percent. The municipality saw seven new cases from Nov. 3 to Nov. 4, and six new cases from Nov. 1 to Nov. 3.

"In partnership with New York State and Northwell, Nassau is expanding COVID-19 testing in Great Neck after a recent increase in infections," Nassau County Executive Laura Curran said in a statement. "As COVID-19 cases spike to record numbers nationwide, let’s remain vigilant and proactive. Nassau County will continue to respond to micro-spikes —wherever they may pop up — with testing, tracing, and community outreach."

Rapid diagnostic tests will be completed utilizing BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag CARD Tests provided by the county. Northwell Health will provide and administer PCR/diagnostic tests to validate those results. Officials will use a drive-through model to deliver tests. Residents will be told to stay in their cars and go to an open testing station to receive nasal swabs for the two diagnostic tests.

Once their noses have been swabbed, residents will be told to wait in their cars in the parking lot of North Shore Hebrew Academy for results to come in, as well as directions about how to get their diagnostic test results and related educational material. Once they receive the results and educational material, residents will be told to exit the testing site.

Tests will be available to community members who are at least 8 years old. Children under 18 must receive consent from a parent or guardian. Testing is only available for Nassau County residents and appointments are required.

“COVID-19 has greatly disrupted our lives and hit our most vulnerable communities the hardest. As cases are slightly increasing in our area, we need to make sure we go above and beyond to stop outbreaks from occurring. We are committed to keeping our communities safe, and this testing initiative will go a long way for the Jewish community like it has for so many others we are working with across Long Island and metro New York," Dr. Deb Salas-Lopez, senior vice president of community and population health at Northwell Health, said in a news release.

New York State Sen. Anna Kaplan said the rapid test site comes amid an expected rise in coronavirus cases. Unlike in March when the first cases arrived, Nassau County has tools in place to combat the virus and "contain it before it becomes another outbreak."

"By strategically deploying convenient testing opportunities in hot spot areas like we are doing in Great Neck, we are helping more people to find out their status, and take appropriate action to stop the spread," Kaplan said in a statement.

Judi Bosworth, supervisor for the Town of North Hempstead, it's vital for residents of Great Neck and the town's greater community to have easy access to a testing site.

New York's infection rate was 2.6 percent as of Monday without including microcluster zones, where the rate was 4.3 percent, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Monday. Twenty-six New Yorkers died of COVID-19, 1,400 remained hospitalized, 282 were receiving intensive care treatment and 125 remained intubated.