Coronavirus Antibody Testing Begins For Nassau First Responders

NASSAU COUNTY, NY — Nassau County Executive Laura Curran anounced that, starting today, first responders and essential government employees in the county will be able to get antibody tests to find out if they had previously contracted the coronavirus.

The tests will be available to all police officers, police medics, corrections officers, deputy sheriffs, fire service personnel and other essential law enforcement and government works from the county, cities, towns and villages.

“We owe so much to our first responders and essential personnel who have been working on the front lines of this pandemic and putting their own health at risk to keep our communities safe," Curran said. "We have already seen many positive cases in our workforce and this test will help expand our knowledge of who may have been exposed to the virus. I am so proud of our law enforcement, first responders and employees who have shown grit and determination through this crisis. It is critical that we do all in our power to protect their well-being while they are working hard to protect ours."

Since March, hundreds of essential workers in the county have contracted the virus. There were 191 confirmed cases in the Nassau County Police Department and 270 cases among the 71 fire departments in the county. Cases were also reported in local police departments and the Nassau County Sheriff's Department, which oversees the Nassau County Correctional Facility.

The antibody tests the county is using is a blood test that received New York state and FDA Emergency Use Authorization. The county's goal is to test 500 personnel a day. The tests may be expanded to include more government personnel at a later date.

Tests are available by appointment only. For more information, eligible employees can call the county’s coronavirus hotline at 516-227-9570.