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New Yorkers Pack COVID-19 Test Sites Ahead of Thanksgiving

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By: Hadassa Kalatizadeh

With the pandemic once again on the rise, Thanksgiving plans have been discouraged by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Mayor Bill de Blasio, and federal infectious-disease chief Dr. Anthony Fauci, to name a few of the officials who have outlined the increased risk of traveling and celebrating in large groups.  Despite this, a flood of NYC residents have been heading to COVID-19 testing centers ahead of the break, indicating that more than a few may still have travel plans.

As reported by the NY Post, on Sunday, the CityMD on Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights had a three-block, three-hour-long line for Covid-19 testing.  Michael, 43, was on line with his 16-month-old daughter, saying his wife already waited three hours to get tested.  “We’re going to her parents [in Brooklyn] on Thursday, and they’re 71 and 73, so it’s, you know, being responsible, doing what you can do,” said Michael, a Park Slope resident, referring to his in-laws.

Similarly, in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn, at another site the wait for testing was more than four hours.   On that line too, residents were looking forward to making trips out to family members.  “It’s OK if you do the testing,” said Tom, 52, who was waiting on line with his wife and two kids, preparing for plans to visit his 82-year-old mom in Maryland. “And you’re supposed to do the quarantining before and after, but I don’t know if I’m doing that,” Tom, a Clinton Hill resident admitted, though he said he won’t travel if he tests positive and won’t be taking a plane regardless. “I think people should just wear masks and wash their hands a lot.”

Last week, Gov. Cuomo pointed to an uptick in Coronavirus cases, adding a restriction against home gatherings with more than 10 people, specifying that it will help curb the virus’s spread during the Thanksgiving holiday.  “My personal advice is you don’t have family gatherings, even for Thanksgiving,” the governor said a month ago.   Mayor de Blasio also said, “I hate to say it, but I have to urge all New Yorkers — do not travel out of state for the holidays.”

NYC closed public schools last week, as the city reached a 3% testing positivity rate over a seven-day rolling average, meeting the set threshold for closure.  An estimated 300,000 students were sent home for virtual learning in an effort to stop the spread.  In NYS, Cuomo added a 10 p.m. curfew on bars, restaurants and gyms, saying most new infections stemmed primarily from private gatherings.

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