NYC Recommends Monthly Coronavirus Tests For Many New Yorkers

NEW YORK CITY — A new batch of coronavirus testing guidance recommends many, if not most, New Yorkers get monthly tests for the virus.

Mayor Bill de Blasio unveiled the new recommendations Wednesday as the city continued to fight back a potential “second wave” encroaching from Brooklyn and Queens.

Teachers, health care workers, food service workers and anyone who interacts with others in their work outside the home should get tested once a month, the guidance states.

“The bottom line is get tested as frequently as appropriate,” de Blasio said.

De Blasio said coronavirus rates appear to “leveling off” in recently-identified clusters in Brooklyn and Queens, but he didn’t provide specific numbers. Those areas now covered by newly-instated red, orange and yellow zones are in varying degrees of lockdowns imposed by the state to contain the virus’ spread.

The city’s positive rate stands at 1.13 percent, or 1.46 percent over a seven-day average, de Blasio said.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo, during an overlapping briefing, said the rate in the Brooklyn cluster stands at 6.4 percent.

De Blasio repeated that testing — in addition to mask wearing, social distancing and other measures — is important to tracking and controlling the virus’ spread.

The new guidance he outlined also recommends that anyone who lives or works in an area with increased COVID-19 transmission get tested immediately.

A “fore bore” public information campaign also will tout the guidance across New York City, de Blasio said.

“We have a chance this week to turn the tide,” he said.