Press Releases

Test & Treat and Dept. of Probation Expand City’s Network of At-Home Test Distribution Sites

Five new walk-up distribution sites at Department of Probation’s NeON Nutrition Kitchens will receive initial allocation of over 50,000 tests in advance of Thanksgiving food drives

Partnership expands Test & Treat’s network of walk-up distribution sites to over 240 locations

Nov 10, 2022

The NYC Test & Treat Corps announced today the opening of five walk-up sites at the NYC Department of Probation’s Neighborhood Opportunity Network (NeON) Nutrition Kitchens, further expanding the city’s network of over 240 walk-up at-home test distribution locations and improving testing equity for all New Yorkers. NeON Nutrition Kitchens, community food pantries that assist people transitioning from the justice system and other residents of justice-impacted neighborhoods, will receive an initial allocation of over 50,000 tests at its locations in each of the five boroughs in advance of NeON’s Thanksgiving food drives.

“We must continue our efforts to serve every community across the city and this partnership gives us a supportive way to reach those that are justice-involved,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “Thank you to the Test & Treat Corps and Department of Probation for making tests available at these sites, so people can both fill their basket with food for the holiday and bring home some at-home COVID tests to keep themselves and their loved ones healthy.”

“The Test & Treat Corps’ growing network of over a thousand distribution partners ensures free at-home testing is accessible to all New York’s diverse communities, no matter where they live, what language they speak, their income, or insurance or immigration status,” said Dr. Ted Long, Executive Director, NYC Test & Treat Corps; Senior Vice President for Ambulatory Care and Population Health, NYC Health + Hospitals. “Our latest partnership with the Department of Probation will extend testing access and equity to New Yorkers impacted by the criminal justice system and those experiencing food-insecurity. Together, we will ensure that New Yorkers coming to NeON Nutrition Kitchens are well-fed and well-protected this Thanksgiving and holiday season.”

“We are pleased to continue our partnership with the NYC Test & Treat Corps in designating NeON Nutrition Kitchen locations as walk-up sites for at-home test distribution this holiday season,” said Probation Commissioner Ana M. Bermúdez. “The Nutrition Kitchens, part of our Neighborhood Opportunity Network (NeON), have been lifelines in these disproportionately impacted communities, feeding over half a million people last year alone. Ensuring that people in need have access to at-home tests, a vital resource during the holiday season, is another important way we are working to help keep communities throughout New York City safe and healthy.”

The expansion of five walk-up distribution sites at the NYC Department of Probation’s Neighborhood Opportunity Network (NeON) Nutrition Kitchens will provide access to free testing in every borough at community food pantries supporting people transitioning from the criminal justice system and other residents. Those sites and their hours of operation include:

The initial allocation of over 50,000 tests at NeON Nutrition Kitchens will provide testing at locations where all New Yorkers can go to receive free, nutritious groceries. At-home tests will be available in advance of Thanksgiving, making sure New Yorkers seeking a turkey and Thanksgiving meals to feed themselves and their families can also pick up at-home tests to help them safely gather together.

In addition, mobile Test to Treat units will be deployed to NeON Nutrition Kitchens in the weeks before Thanksgiving to ensure on-site PCR and rapid testing with immediate connection to treatment is available to those in need.

To date, the NYC Test & Treat Corps has distributed over 67 million free at-home tests through its network of over 1,200 distribution partners. The Corps has established walk-up sites at 193 City libraries, 27 NYC Parks facilities, 14 prominent cultural institutions and seven Gotham Health locations. Walk-up sites receive weekly deliveries of at-home tests where they are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Additionally, the Test & Treat Corps’ network of over 985 community and faith-based distribution partners has distributed more than 7 million at-home tests and 15 million KN95 or surgical masks. This massive distribution effort has ensured critical self-testing resources and personal protective equipment (PPE) is widely accessible for City residents across the five boroughs. Program partners have established distribution sites in 157 of the City’s 178 zip codes and 99% of neighborhoods the city’s Taskforce on Racial Inclusion & Equity (TRIE) determined were hardest hit by the pandemic.

Making at-home testing widely available has ensured New Yorkers can test themselves immediately if they have symptoms, so they can safely head to work, school, or other gatherings with family or friends or be immediately connected to life-saving COVID-19 treatments in the event of a positive test.

The Corps continues to expand its network of distribution partners, providing additional sites for City residents to pick up at-home tests. Any New York City-based community organization that would like to participate as an at-home test distribution partner is encouraged to sign up online.

New Yorkers can find the location most convenient to them and site hours of operation by visiting the City’s COVID-19 testing page. New Yorkers with a disability who need assistance or have questions regarding at-home tests should call 311. Those who are deaf or hard of hearing and use American Sign Language can call via video phone at 646-396-5830.

The rapid results provided by at-home tests allow New Yorkers to know their COVID health status in minutes and, if positive, immediately seek antiviral treatment through New York City’s unique COVID-19 Hotline (212-COVID19). New Yorkers who test positive using an at-home test are encouraged to call the hotline at 212-268-4319 to take advantage of free, at-home delivery of COVID-19 treatments, which include life-saving medicines like Paxlovid.

Multiple COVID-19 treatments are available for people ages 12 and older, and can be delivered to New Yorkers’ homes for free. For more information on COVID-19 treatments, please call 212-COVID19 and press 9 or visit the NYC Test & Treat Corps’ COVID-19 treatments website.

Calling 212-COVID19 provides New Yorkers an immediate connection to a clinician who can refer them to monoclonal antibody treatment or prescribe antiviral medications, like Paxlovid, and arrange to have it delivered to their home that same day for free.

About the NYC Test & Treat Corps
The NYC Test & Treat Corps is the City’s comprehensive effort to respond to COVID-19 by providing New Yorkers accessible, no-cost testing, rapid connections to COVID-19 treatments and resources to support those recovering from Long COVID. Through a partnership with NYC Health + Hospitals and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the NYC Test & Treat Corps provides New Yorkers equitable, widespread access to the critical tools for COVID-19 testing and treatment. For more information, visit testandtreat.nyc.

About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the City’s five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system’s trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlus health plan—all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 43,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NYCHealthSystem or Twitter at @NYCHealthSystem.

About NYC Department of Probation’s Neighborhood Opportunity Network (NeON)
The Neighborhood Opportunity Network (NeON) comprises a network of resource hubs strategically located in seven New York City neighborhoods that have been disproportionately impacted by the justice system. These neighborhoods are home to large numbers of people on probation — the majority of whom are people of color. Through this nationally recognized model, NYC Probation provides resources, programming, and opportunities in partnership with community residents, organizations, and other city agencies. The NeON Nutrition Kitchens are open 17 days a month in all 5 boroughs and have fed over 1.1 million New Yorkers.  Visit the NeON Nutrition Kitchen here.

Contact: Press Office

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