New Yorkers Wait Hours for COVID-19 Tests as Omicron Spreads

Residents faced long lines at COVID-19 testing sites across New York City on Friday, December 17, as a surge in cases prompted the temporary closures of Broadway shows, restaurants, and bars. “Omicron is here in NYC and spreading quickly,” Dave Chokshi, New York City’s Health Commissioner, wrote in a tweet on Thursday. “We’re seeing a surge of #COVID19 cases ahead of the holidays – the 7-day average for new cases has tripled in the last month. All boroughs remain in high transmission.” This footage, recorded at a testing site in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, shows a line that snakes around the block. The NYC Mayor’s Office said on Thursday that the city would be increasing testing capacity with more sites and extended hours, distributing 1 million KN95 masks and 500,000 rapid at-home tests, increasing its push for booster shots, and “doubling down on inspections for COVID-19 safety violations.” Credit: Luke Kingma via Storyful

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