As colder weather starts to creep in, cold, flu, and COVID season is on the rise. In the past month, COVID cases have been trending upward in New York City. The latest testing data according to the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene states that the 7-day average of the percent of people tested who test positive is 13.93% as of November 27, 2022.
How can you help stop the spread?
There are tools and resources available to all New Yorkers that can protect anyone and their loved ones.
Testing is an important tool in mitigating infections. Finding out if you or someone around you tested positive is helpful when deciding whether to isolate or quarantine and to figure out what is best for you. The Test & Treat Corps’ mobile fleet offers testing and treatment in all units, and additional testing can also be found in facilities run by NYC Health + Hospitals at no cost regardless of immigration status. Finding the most convenient City-run site is made simple with the COVID-19 Test Site Finder. Or, anyone can call 212-COVID-19 to find testing units.
Additional tools include masking up in crowded areas, social distancing, handwashing, and vaccination. Staying up-to-date with vaccines and boosters is the most helpful and effective way to stop the spread. COVID-19 vaccines are available to most New Yorkers including those ages 6 months and older. The updated bivalent boosters are also available as a single dose to those ages 6 years and older for the Moderna booster and 5 years and older for the Pfizer-BioNTech booster.
How can you spread the word?
The best way for most people to know what is available to them is by word-of-mouth. The Test & Treat Corps has a streamlined social media kit that anyone can use to boost the message about available testing and treatment for COVID-19 called the TEST NOW Social Campaign.
The tool kit consists of easily accessible images and short videos presented in different languages including English, Spanish, and Traditional or Simplified Chinese. The information is shareable through various social media platforms, and can even be emailed.
Stay informed
NYC Health + Hospitals
Testing
NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
COVID-19 Test Site Finder
COVID-19: Testing