Nassau County Executive Laura Curran recently announced a partnership with New York State and Northwell to provide free drive-through COVID-19 rapid testing in Great Neck in response to a recent increase in infections. Testing is at North Shore Hebrew Academy, which is located at 16 Cherry Ln. Hours of operation will be Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Appointments are required and can be made by calling 1-833-4CARENY (1-833-422-7369). All COVID-19 testing is provided free regardless of immigration status.
“In partnership with New York State and Northwell, Nassau is expanding COVID-19 testing in Great Neck after a recent increase in infections,” Curran said. “As COVID-19 cases spike to record numbers nationwide, let’s remain vigilant and proactive. Nassau County will continue to respond to micro-spikes—wherever they may pop up—with testing, tracing, and community outreach. I thank all the men and women at Northwell for the life saving work they do every day.”
Rapid response COVID-19 diagnostic testing will be completed utilizing BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag CARD tests that will be provided by Nassau County. Northwell Health will also provide and administer PCR/diagnostic testing to validate the results of the BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag CARD tests. A drive-through model of test delivery will be employed. Community members will be directed to remain in their cars and go to an available testing station to receive their nasal swabs for the two diagnostic tests.
When the testing administration is completed, community members will be directed to wait in their cars in the parking lot of North Shore Hebrew Academy to receive their rapid response results, directions as to how to get their PCR/diagnostic test results and related educational material. Once rapid response test results and educational material have been disseminated, community members will be directed as to where to exit the testing site.
Testing will be available to community members who are aged 8 and older. Individuals who are under 18 will be consented by a parent or guardian. Testing will be open to Nassau County residents only and will be by appointment only.
“COVID-19 has greatly disrupted our lives and hit our most vulnerable communities the hardest. As cases are slightly increasing in our area, we need to make sure we go above and beyond to stop outbreaks from occurring. We are committed to keeping our communities safe, and this testing initiative will go a long way for the Jewish community like it has for so many others we are working with across Long Island and metro New York,” said Deb Salas-Lopez, who is the Northwell Health Senior Vice President of Community and Population Health.
State Senator Anna Kaplan said it is unfortunate that the county is starting to see a spike in COVID cases that experts predicted would happen this fall.
“Unlike when the virus hit us from Europe last spring, we now have the tools in place to deal with it and contain it before it becomes another outbreak here in Nassau County,” she said. “By strategically deploying convenient testing opportunities in hot spot areas like we are doing in Great Neck, we are helping more people to find out their status, and take appropriate action to stop the spread. It’s a strategy that has worked in areas around the state, and I’m grateful to Governor Cuomo for his leadership on this strategy, and for the partnership of County Executive Curran, North Shore Hebrew Academy, and Northwell Health in getting it implemented.”
North Hempstead Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth said she applauds the state, the county and Northwell Health for working together to open a testing center in Great Neck.
“The health and well-being of our residents is of paramount importance and having easy access to a testing site will be vital to the residents of Great Neck and the greater North Hempstead community,” Bosworth said.
—Submitted by the office of Laura Curran
