MAYOR ADAMS FURTHER EXPANDS CITY’S NETWORK OF AT-HOME TEST DISTRIBUTION SITES TO NYC PARKS, BOLSTERING NYC'S COVID-19 PREPAREDNESS AND PROTECTING NEW YORKERS

 

Mayor Adams to Expand Network of Over 1,200 At-Home Test Distribution Sites at 57 NYC Parks, Pools, Nature and Recreation Centers

NYC Parks’ Initial Allocation of 35,000 Tests Will Continue Each Month  

 

City Urges New Yorkers to Take Advantage of Widely Available COVID-19 Treatments That Have Helped Over 82,000 New Yorkers

 New York City Mayor Eric Adams, the NYC Test & Trace Corps (Test & Trace) and New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), in partnership with the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation (NYC Parks), took action today to bolster New York City’s COVID-19 preparedness by continuing to expand its network of at-home distribution sites to NYC Parks’ network of 57 pools, and nature and recreation centers. Mayor Adams announced the distribution of an additional 35,000 COVID-19 tests to NYC Parks locations for their initial monthly allocation. The distribution measures further expand the city’s network of distribution partners participating in the city’s At-Home Test Distribution Program to 1,220, including over 1,000 community organizations, libraries, cultural institutions, houses of worship, and elected offices. The distribution effort joins other measures to blunt the worst impacts of the current rise in cases, including the distribution of 82,000 COVID-19 courses of treatment to date.

 

The city has also already distributed approximately 35 million at-home tests to schools and participating community organizations over the last six months, ensuring free at-home testing — which New Yorkers strongly prefer — is widely accessible to New Yorkers across the five boroughs. The rapid results provided by at-home tests allow New Yorkers to know their COVID health status in minutes and then immediately seek antiviral treatment through New York City’s unique COVID-19 Hotline if positive. New Yorkers who test positive using an at-home test are encouraged to call the hotline at 212-COVID19 to take advantage of free, at-home delivery of COVID-19 treatments.  

 

“Today, we have access to new tools that the city could not readily supply six months ago, so it’s never been easier for New Yorkers to get a free at-home test or access COVID-19 treatments in New York City,” said Mayor Adams. “We can now give New Yorkers answers and reassurance within minutes, instead of making them wait days or weeks. It’s clear that New Yorkers prefer the reliability, the convenience, and the immediate results provided by at-home tests, so I encourage all New Yorkers to go out and pick up a free at-home test at one of our 1,200 distribution sites as soon as they can to remain prepared, and to take advantage of the life-saving treatments we now have readily available to fight this virus. With NYC Parks now offering up dozens of additional locations to access these vital tools during the summer, I know we can continue to win the war against COVID.” 

 

“Today’s announcement that at-home test kits will be distributed in parks puts the right resources in people’s hands to help protect themselves and their families against the virus,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “Thank you to our partners in government and everyone that will be out distributing the kits.” 

 

“At this stage of the pandemic, we have treatments that can save your life. Time matters though, and rapid test results are critical because the sooner you get your test result the faster you can start a life-saving treatment like Paxlovid,” said Dr. Ted Long, executive director, NYC Test & Trace Corps; senior vice president for Ambulatory Care and Population Health, NYC Health + Hospitals. “I want to thank NYC Parks for creating more than 50 new sites where New Yorkers can pick up free home tests, so that all New Yorkers can have fast, reliable results at the first sign of symptoms. To find a site near you, go to nyc.gov/covidtest, and if you test positive you can call us at 212-COVID19 to speak to a clinician in a matter of minutes about our life saving treatments.”

 

“During the pandemic New Yorkers have come to know our parks as more than a go to for recreational needs, they were hospitals, testing sites and places to get masks,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue. “We are always been happy to do our part, and we look forward to helping expand the distribution of at-home Covid-19 tests to help keep people safe and healthy across the city.”

 

“We are seeing a sustained increase in COVID transmission in recent days driven by new, more transmissible variants like BA.4 and BA.5,” said DOHMH Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan. “We’re recommending New Yorkers wear high-grade masks in public indoor settings; stay home if you feel ill; get tested frequently, including with these rapid at home tests; make use of easy access to treatment, especially Paxlovid. Call your provider or 212-COVID19 to get access to treatment, or visit one of our mobile test-to-treat sites. Partnerships like the ones being launched today, to get test kits to the city, will be a major step to help New Yorkers protect themselves and each other and slow the spread of COVID.”

Making at-home testing widely available has ensured New Yorkers can test themselves immediately if they have symptoms, so they can safely head to work, to school, or to other gatherings with family or friends, or be immediately connected to life-saving COVID-19 treatments in the event of a positive test.  

 

In addition to more than 1,100 other sites, beginning tomorrow, Wednesday July 13, 2022, at-home tests will be available at 57 NYC Parks pools, recreation, nature, and visitor centers for free. Note that tests at public pools will only be available to pool patrons. All locations where New Yorkers can pick up an at-home test, including NYC Parks distribution sites can be found at nyc.gov/covidtest. New sites include:

 

SITE	LOCATION	HOURS
Brooklyn
St. Johns Recreation Center	1251 Prospect Place	Mon. – Fri., 7 a.m. – 10 p.m.; Sat. 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Red Hook Recreation Center	155 Bay Street	Mon. – Fri., 6 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Sat. 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Brownsville Recreation Center	1555 Linden Boulevard	Mon. – Fri., 7 a.m. – 10 p.m.; Sat. – Sun. 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Metropolitan Pool Recreation Center	261 Bedford Avenue	Mon. – Fri., 7 a.m. – 10 p.m.; Sat. 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Sunset Recreation Center	7th Ave. at 43rd Street	Mon. – Fri., 6 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Sat. 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Ft. Hamilton Recreation Center	9941 Ft. Hamilton Parkway	Mon. – Sat., 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Betsy Head Pool	Boyland, Livonia, & Dumont Avenues	Mon. – Sun., 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Commodore Barry Pool	Flushing & Park avenues, Navy & North Elliot Streets	Mon. – Sun., 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Howard Pool	Glenmore & Mother Gaston Boulevard, East New York Avenue	Mon. – Sun., 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Bushwick Pool	Humboldt Street, Flushing & Bushwick Avenues	Mon. – Sun., 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Kosciusko Pool	Marcy Avenue Between DeKalb Avenue & Kosciuszko Street	Mon. – Sun., 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
McCarren Recreation Center	McCarren Play Center	Mon. – Fri., 6 a.m. – 10 p.m.; Sat. 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Douglas & Degraw Pool	Third Avenue & Nevins Street	Mon. – Sun., 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Bronx
Kwame Ture Recreation Center	1527 Jesup Avenue	Mon. – Fri., 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Claremont Pool	170th St. & Clay Avenue	Mon. – Sun., 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Crotona Pool	173rd St. & Fulton Avenue	Mon. – Sun., 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center	3225 Reservoir Oval East	Mon. – Fri., 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Sat. 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Hunts Point Recreation Center	765 Manida Street	Mon. – Fri., 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Sat. 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Mullaly Pool	E. 164th Street Between Jerome & River Avenues	Mon. – Sun., 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Mapes Pool	E. 180th Street Between Mapes & Prospect Avenues	Mon. – Sun., 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Haffen Pool	Ely & Burke Avenues	Mon. – Sun., 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Floating Lady Pool	Tiffany Street & Viele Avenue	Mon. – Sun., 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Van Cortlandt Pool	W. 242nd Street & Broadway	Mon. – Sun., 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Van Cortlandt Nature Center	W. 246th Street & Broadway	Sat. – Sun., 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. & 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. (To Labor Day)
Manhattan
Marcus Garvey Pool	124th Street and Fifth Avenue	Mon. – Sun., 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Hamilton Fish Recreation Center	128 Pitt Street	Tues – Fri., 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Pelham Fritz Recreation Center	18 Mount Morris Park West	Tues – Fri., 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Sat. 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Thomas Jefferson Recreation Center	2180 1st Avenue	Tues – Fri., 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Highbridge Recreation Center	2301 Amsterdam Avenue	Mon. – Fri., 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Gertrude Ederle Recreation Center	232 West 60th Street	Mon. – Fri., 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Sat. 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Constance Baker Motley Recreation Center	348 East 54th Street	Mon. – Fri., 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Hansborough Recreation Center	35 West 134th Street	Mon. – Fri., 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
J. Hood Wright Recreation Center	351 Ft. Washington Avenue	Tues – Fri., 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Chelsea Recreation Center	430 West 25th Street	Mon. – Fri., 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Sat. 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Al Smith Recreation Center	80 Catherine Street	Mon. – Fri., 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Jackie Robinson Recreation Center	85 Bradhurst Avenue	Mon. – Fri., 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Asser Levy Recreation Center	392 Asser Levy Place	Mon. – Fri., 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Dry Dock Pool	E. 10th Street Between Avenues C & D	Mon. – Sun., 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Wagner Pool	E. 124th Street Between First and Second Avenues	Mon. – Sun., 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
John Jay Pool	East of York Avenue on 77th Street	Mon. – Sun., 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Sheltering Arms Pool	W. 129th Street & Amsterdam Avenue	Mon. – Sun., 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Queens
Al Oerter Recreation Center	131–40 Fowler Avenue	Mon. – Fri., 6 a.m. – 10 p.m.; Sat. 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Liberty Pool	173rd Street and 106th Avenue	Mon. – Sun., 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Roy Wilkins Recreation Center	177th Street & Baisley Boulevard	Mon. – Fri., 7 a.m. – 10 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sorrentino Recreation Center	18–48 Cornaga Avenue	Mon. – Fri., 8 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Sat. 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Astoria Pool	19th Street & 23rd Drive	Mon. – Sun., 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Fort Totten Visitors Center	212th Street & Bell Boulevard	Sat. – Sun., 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. & 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. (To Labor Day)
Fort Totten Pool	338 Story Avenue	Mon. – Sun., 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Fisher Pool	99th Street and 32nd Avenue	Mon. – Sun., 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Staten Island
Blue Heron Nature Center	222 Poillon Avenue Between Amboy Road & Hylan Boulevard	Sat. – Sun., 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. & 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. (To Labor Day)
Ocean Breeze Recreation Center	625 Father Capodanno Boulevard	Mon. – Thurs., 5:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.; Fri., 7 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Greenbelt Recreation Center	Brielle Avenue & Walcott Avenue	Mon. – Fri., 6:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.; Sat. – Sun. 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Faber Pool	Faber Street & Richmond Terrace	Mon. – Sun., 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Faber Recreation Center	Farber Street & Richmond Terrace	Tues – Fri., 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Sat. 12 p.m. – 8 p.m.
West Brighton Pool	Henderson Avenue Between Broadway & Chappel Street	Mon. – Sun., 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Tottenville Pool	Hylan Boulevard & Joline Avenue	Mon. – Sun., 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Lyons Recreation Center	Murray Hulbert Avenue and Victory Boulevard	Mon. – Fri., 6:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.; Sat. – Sun., 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.

 

At-home test distribution through Test & Trace’s network of 1,220 prominent cultural sites, library branches, and, now, 57 additional NYC Parks locations brings critical self-testing resources to areas of need at familiar locations in all five boroughs. Test & Trace makes weekly deliveries of at-home tests to participating cultural sites and libraries, where they are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Additionally, over 917 community and faith-based organizations — including 253 houses of worship — have already signed up to regularly distribute at-home tests. Any New York City-based community organization that would like to participate as an at-home test distribution partner is encouraged to sign up online.  

 

New York continues to expand the number of sites to pick up an at-home test and New Yorkers can find the location most convenient to them and the hours of operation for these sites by visiting the city’s COVID-19 testing page. New Yorkers with a disability who need assistance or have questions regarding at-home test kits should call 311. Those who are deaf or hard of hearing and use American Sign Language can call via video phone at 646-396-5830.   

 

Multiple COVID-19 treatments are available for people ages 12 and older, and can be delivered to New Yorkers’ homes for free. For more information on COVID-19 treatments, please call 212-COVID19 and press 9 or visit DOHMH’s COVID-19 treatments website.  

 

Calling 212-COVID19 provides New Yorkers an immediate connection to a clinician who can refer them to monoclonal antibody treatment or prescribe antiviral medications, like Paxlovid, and arrange to have it delivered to their home that same day for free.