FOR IMMEDIATE MEDIA CONTACTS:

RELEASE: NYC Health + Hospitals:

PressOffice@nychhc.org
June 25, 2020
CM Kallos: Josh Jamieson,
press@benkallos.com, 917-
923-0348

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS ANNOUNCES COVID-19

TESTING POP-UP SITE ON ROOSEVELT ISLAND

All New Yorkers should get a Covid-19 swab test; mobile testing site will be available at
Motorgate Helix Field from Monday, June 29 to Friday, July 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Site was made possible with the support and advocacy of Council Member Kallos,
Roosevelt Island elected officials, and the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation

Roosevelt Island, NY (June 25, 2020) – NYC Health + Hospitals today announced the first
Covid-19 testing pop-up site on Roosevelt Island. The site will be available at Motorgate Helix
Field from Monday, June 29 to Friday July 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a capacity to do 80
Covid-19 diagnostic nasal swab tests per day. This is the first testing site on Roosevelt Island, an
island in the East River with more than 12,000 residents. The site was made possible with the
support and advocacy of Council Member Kallos, Roosevelt Island elected officials, and the
Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation. All New Yorkers should get a Covid-19 nasal swab
test. The test is free and there are no out-of-pocket fees or copays; however, patients with
insurance will be asked for their insurance information.

“NYC Health + Hospitals is grateful to have such passionate advocates in every corner of this
city that will support the access to important health care needs,” said NYC Health + Hospitals
President and CEO Mitchell Katz, MD. “Accessible, comprehensive care for all New Yorkers
is foundational to the City’s public health system, and universal Covid-19 testing is a critical tool
to help stop the spread of the Coronavirus and keep the City on track to re-open.”

“The key to beating Covid-19 is testing, testing, testing; I cannot stress that enough. We need to
get as many New Yorkers tested as possible and that certainly includes the 12,000 or so residents
living on Roosevelt Island,” said Council Member Ben Kallos. “Thank you to NYC Health +
Hospitals for working to bring this mobile facility into the island. It is our goal to get as many
residents tested during these seven days, so please spread the word and make sure all your
neighbors get tested if they have not done so already.”

The NYC Health + Hospitals mobile Covid-19 testing site will come complete with two 10’ x
10’ tents. Residents will be met by a complement of one registration clerk and operations
manager, a nurse, a nurse practitioner, and a trained patient navigator. Residents age 65 and over
will be provided a separate line to access testing. There is no RSVP: care will be provided on a
first come first serve basis.
NYC Health + Hospitals opened a temporary acute-care hospital on Roosevelt Island that
expands the system’s bed capacity by 350 additional beds to help respond to the unprecedented
number of patients seeking care for Covid-19 during the initial surge in the City. The new and
separate space was stood up over a three-week span on unused parts of the campus of NYC
Health + Hospitals/Coler that had been vacant for more than a decade. The temporary facility
was part of NYC Health + Hospitals’ strategy to nearly triple ICU bed capacity system-wide to
accommodate the surge in patients with Covid-19

“Health experts have told us time and time again- including in testimony before the
Congressional committee that I chair- that testing, tracing, and social distancing are key to
combatting the COVID-19 pandemic. I am so glad to see that the first COVID-19 testing pop-up
is coming to Roosevelt Island, it is a necessary addition to help the City during this critical time.
I am grateful to Council Member Ben Kallos for securing the partnership between Health +
Hospitals and the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation to ensure testing is available to
Roosevelt Island’s 12,000 residents, and I encourage my constituents to get tested,” said
Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney.

“Testing is one of the most important tools we have to slowing the spread of this pandemic, and
that's why it's wonderful that NYC Health+Hospitals is a launching new pop-up testing site here
in Roosevelt Island. I thank Council Member Ben Kallos for his leadership in spearheading this
effort, as well as the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) and NYC
Health+Hospitals. I encourage all Roosevelt Islanders to take advantage of this convenient and
easy opportunity as soon as they are able,” said Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer.

“Testing is an important component of protecting people from Covid-19 and keeping infection
rates low. This mobile testing site will ensure Roosevelt Island residents can get tested without
having to take public transportation, making the process easier for seniors, people with
disabilities, and other vulnerable groups. This crisis has shown us that we all have a part to play
in keeping our communities safe, and in that spirit, I encourage all residents to get a test,” said
State Senator Jose Serrano.

“It is imperative that all New Yorkers have equal and fair access to Covid-19 testing. It is central
to the test and trace initiative that is going to get New York City going again. Access to testing
must be expansive in order to be effective. Roosevelt Island is home to 14,000+ New Yorkers,
so we welcome the Health and Hospitals mobile testing initiative to Firefighter’s Field,” said
Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright.

For a list of NYC Health + Hospitals Covid-19 testing sites, click here.

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About NYC Health + Hospitals

NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest public health care system in the nation serving more than a
million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city’s five
boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care
centers anchors care coordination with the system’s trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute
care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlus health plan—all supported by 11 essential
hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 42,000 employees is uniquely focused on
empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more
information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook
at https://www.facebook.com/NYCHealthSystem or Twitter at @NYCHealthSystem.