New Rochelle continues to operate drive-through coronavirus testing site

In order to get swabbed, people will need to make an appointment with a doctor’s prescription first.

News 12 Staff

Mar 13, 2020, 9:30 AM

Updated 1,596 days ago

Share:

New York's first mobile testing center has opened in New Rochelle.
Officials say Northwell Health has set up a drive-through coronavirus testing site at Glen Island Park.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo was on hand today, and says it is the first public drive-through testing facility on the East Coast. The facility has six lanes.
In order to get tested, people will need to make an appointment with a doctor’s prescription first. According to the state’s website, quarantined New Rochelle residents will be tested first.
Once they have an appointment, people will then drive into a tented area, get swabbed, and then the swab will be sent to a lab like BioReference Laboratories where they will be tested within 24-48 hours. Today they're expected to test up to 200 people, but the goal in the coming days is to increase that capacity to about 500.
"It is not only faster and easier, it's also smarter and safer because you're not exposing a person who may be positive," Cuomo said.
New Rochelle is currently at the center of New York's coronavirus outbreak, and officials have been focusing their efforts to stop the spread with the creation of a containment zone and pushing to get more and more New Yorkers tested.
Cuomo was adamant there are two ways to fight the virus - by reducing density and closing all events of groups over 500 people and for increased testing. He says testing people and finding out who tested positive, and then isolating them is the way to slow down the virus.
He says that he has lobbied Vice President Mike Pence to allow states to do more testing. “We are not scale. We need to change that quickly and let the federal government turn that function over to the states. He states do it anyway.. that’s our bread and butter. You could open up 500 to1,000 laboratories overnight if you just turn that responsibility back to the states.”
Cuomo says the mobile testing center will be open through the duration of the coronavirus pandemic, which he expects to be several months.
The number to call to make an appointment is (888) 364-3065.
CORONAVIRUS PREVENTION: What you can do to protect yourself
PHOTOS: The impact of the coronavirus outbreak around the world:
 
 
undefined
 
News 12 will host a 30-minute call-in show every night this week at 7 p.m. from March 9 to March 13 where experts will answer your questions about the coronavirus. The show will be followed by a special Facebook Live Q&A. The call in number is 914-378-4610.  
 


More from News 12
1:52
Hudson Valley doctors warn of listeria dangers following multi-state outbreak

Hudson Valley doctors warn of listeria dangers following multi-state outbreak

2:04
Sunny skies and warm temps for Saturday in the Hudson Valley

Sunny skies and warm temps for Saturday in the Hudson Valley

0:38
Multimillion-dollar transformation on the way for sections of Hudson Valley

Multimillion-dollar transformation on the way for sections of Hudson Valley

0:49
New basketball documentary film 'The Process' has ties to Westchester

New basketball documentary film 'The Process' has ties to Westchester

0:49
Olympic watch party in Pomona cheers on Rockland athletes

Olympic watch party in Pomona cheers on Rockland athletes

0:32
Veteran firefighter who suffered stroke receives warm welcome home

Veteran firefighter who suffered stroke receives warm welcome home

0:17
Yorktown police sergeant celebrates final walkout following 2 decades of service

Yorktown police sergeant celebrates final walkout following 2 decades of service

1:40
Lithium-ion battery fire blamed for closure of Newburgh tailor shop

Lithium-ion battery fire blamed for closure of Newburgh tailor shop

0:52
Slate Hill family of 5 loses home in afternoon blaze

Slate Hill family of 5 loses home in afternoon blaze

0:37
2 people charged in Middletown narcotics; firearms bust

2 people charged in Middletown narcotics; firearms bust

1:30
Motorcycle, van crash in Greenburgh causes serious injuries

Motorcycle, van crash in Greenburgh causes serious injuries

0:56
News 12 probes mystery cloud traced to Orange County & seen throughout tri-state area

News 12 probes mystery cloud traced to Orange County & seen throughout tri-state area

1:02
Hillcrest Fire Department receives 2,000 cans of drinking water, courtesy of Anheuser-Busch

Hillcrest Fire Department receives 2,000 cans of drinking water, courtesy of Anheuser-Busch

1:37
Storm Watch Team Meteorologist Skyler Harman strikes down lightning myths

Storm Watch Team Meteorologist Skyler Harman strikes down lightning myths

2:33
Can swimming become dangerous due to extremely high water surface temperatures?

Can swimming become dangerous due to extremely high water surface temperatures?

0:32
NYC officials: Westchester caseworker’s death ruled a homicide

NYC officials: Westchester caseworker’s death ruled a homicide

0:40
State, federal lawmakers introduce legislation to shorten funding gap for World Trade Center Health Program

State, federal lawmakers introduce legislation to shorten funding gap for World Trade Center Health Program

0:34
Ex Frito-Lay employee files defamation lawsuit against PepsiCo claiming he invented ‘Flamin’ Hot Cheetos

Ex Frito-Lay employee files defamation lawsuit against PepsiCo claiming he invented ‘Flamin’ Hot Cheetos

0:40
Executive orders still in place preventing Rockland County and Orange County hotels from converting into migrant shelters

Executive orders still in place preventing Rockland County and Orange County hotels from converting into migrant shelters

0:34
Finger in salad lawsuit against Chop’t discontinued

Finger in salad lawsuit against Chop’t discontinued