More New Yorkers Encouraged to Get COVID-19 Testing

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo says New York State has enough coronavirus tests for more people to access the procedure, more counties start to reopen and Watkins Glen Racing okay.

May 17, the governor himself got the nasal swab for coronavirus on live TV as he announced all people experiencing flu-like symptoms are now eligible for testing.

Cuomo says the state has more than 700 testing sites and is doubling capacity to reach 40,000 diagnostic tests per day.

Residents can visit a new website to find a nearby testing site if they have COVID-19 symptoms, had contact with someone known to be positive, anyone subject to a precautionary or mandatory quarantine, a health care or nursing home worker or first responder, any essential worker who directly interacts with the public and anyone who would return to the workplace in phase one of the state’s reopening plan.

The testing site website is coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-19-testing.

Meanwhile, two more state regions — Western New York and the Capital District — have met criteria to move into the first phase of reopening but still need to hire several hundred more people for contact tracing programs.

May 16, the Governor announce a return of some sports to the state by allowing horse racing tracks and Watkins Glen International to reopen. But Cuomo was quick on Saturday to add a caveat: “No crowds. No fans.”