NYers Took 500K Coronavirus Tests In Week Before Thanksgiving

NEW YORK CITY — The long lines outside of coronavirus testing sites ahead of Thanksgiving helped fuel a single-week record for tests in the city.

Mayor Bill de Blasio on Thursday announced New Yorkers took more than 500,000 tests during the week before the holiday.

"These are the kind of numbers we dreamed of long ago that would really allow us to understand exactly what's happening and to protect the most people," he said. "Half a million New Yorkers in a single week got tested and we want to keep seeing that going forward."

The exact figure tallied at 531,810 for the week between Nov. 18 and 24, according to the city's COVID-19 data.

That week saw long lines, sometimes with hours-long waits, stretching outside testing sites across the city.

The apparent rush before the holiday dovetailed with fears that Thanksgiving gatherings and travels could fuel an already-accelerating coronavirus surge. Just this week, Anthony Fauci, the renowned infectious disease expert, warned New Yorkers that the full effects of holiday get-togethers could lead to a "dark time" fully descending in mid-January.

De Blasio didn't address those fears as he touted the testing record, but signaled that the city's testing capacity could help in the fight. He said the city can now conduct 120,000 tests a day.

"Now, New Yorkers, the tests are out there — so many people ready to serve you, you can get you a quick turnaround time on those results," he said. "It's fast, it's easy, get on out there and get tested. It will help this city to move forward but more importantly it will protect you and your family and everyone you love."

The city conducted 418,000 coronavirus tests in the week after Thanksgiving, according to data.

It averaged about 388,000 tests in the month ahead of the holiday, data shows.