Rebeka Humbrecht
Staten Island Advance
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — With over 1,300 cases of coronavirus already among the NYPD, the department has made partnerships to get testing to their cops more effectively.
Officers will have access to free coronavirus testing thanks to a new partnership with three health care groups, the New York Post reported.
The partnerships include NorthWell Health, ProHealth, and Montefiore Health Systems. At specific sites, the co-pays for the test are being waived for cops.
Testing is going to be available for members of the NYPD that are showing symptoms of coronavirus. Officers can visit one of the 74 locations around New York City, according to an email from Police Commissioner Dermot Shea that the Post obtained.
At some of the sites, cops can walk in themselves. Otherwise, access to other sites is based on referrals from the NYPD medical division.
“This comes at a crucial moment, as testing for the presence of coronavirus is integral in our ongoing mission to protect the city we serve,” Shea wrote in the department-wide email.
Previously, the only options available for NYPD were going to one of the state’s drive-thru sites. One of these first responder-only sites was set up in Queens in March and notably was running out of tests rapidly, the Post reported.
According to the Post, Shea hopes to “boost up that capacity” with the partnership and new site availabilities.