NEW YORK — With COVID-19 cases in New York rising, Ealsha Thomas of Brooklyn is not taking any chances with her health: she’s getting tested more frequently.

“Let’s say since fall started, this would be my seventh time getting tested,” she said.


What You Need To Know

  • As of Monday, the seven-day average showed a 2.6% positivity rate among city residents who got tested

  • There were 1,021 new confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases in the seven-day average on Monday

  • City officials are encouraging people to wear masks indoors

On Wednesday, she stopped off at a curbside testing tent.

“I just wanted to make sure that everything is OK, even though I have no type of symptoms or anything,” she said. “I am vaccinated, but I just want to make sure that I am still COVID-free.”

Hampton Holmes, a lab technician, Lab Worq, says he’s seeing more people, such as students, workers and travelers, come to his sidewalk COVID-19 testing tent.

“Closer to the weekend, you’ll see a lot more people,” Holmes said. "Around 50 people can come here in maybe a span of four, five hours."

As of Monday, the seven-day average showed a 2.6% positivity rate among city residents who got tested, and 1,021 new confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases.

Outside a CityMD location on 14th Street and Third Avenue on Wednesday, people lined up, some for a COVID-19 test.

“Seeing family last week and I’m seeing family this weekend,” Emily Musson said before her test, "so I just wanted to be safe."

For Thomas, she says she’s scared about a potential winter wave and the new variant, omicron, being studied. But she still plans to enjoy the holiday.

“It’s not going to get any better, honestly,” she said. "So just enjoy yourself. Enjoy the holidays with your family and friends — regardless of what, just make sure you’re safe."

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