More COVID-19 Testing Coming To Suffolk – Long Island Business News

Three new community-based COVID-19 testing sites will be opening in Suffolk County, officials said.

Rapid Antigen COVID-19 tests, administered by Baseline Health and Reef Technologies, will be available on a first come, first served basis, and the sites will have limited hours of operation.

On Wednesday, Dec. 29, the first testing site opens at Hecksher State Park. This location will be followed by a second testing site at Red Creek Park, which was formerly located at Francis S. Gabreski Airport, opening on Monday, Jan. 3. The third testing site, at Cathedral Pines County Park, is slated to open on Tuesday, Jan. 4.

“What we have learned so far is that the Omicron variant is highly transmittable and causing a spike in our daily positivity rate,” Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said in a statement.

“Testing is one of the best tools we have when it comes to containing the spread of this virus,” he added. “As we approach the New Year, these three new sites will provide quick and convenient results for our residents so that they can protect themselves and their loved ones.”

News of the additional sites come at a time when the COVID-19 positivity rate on Long Island has hit 16.26 percent, up from 14.79 percent on Sunday, according to New York State data.

Officials provided additional information about the testing sites:

• Hecksher State Park, Field 8 (opening Dec. 29)  is located at 1 Heckscher State Parkway in East Islip. The site will be open every Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Testing Capacity: Up 1,000 tests a day
• Red Creek Park (opening Jan 3) is located at 102 Old Riverhead Road in Hampton Bays. It will be open for school-required testing and community testing. It will be open on Mondays only from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Testing Capacity: Up to 500 tests per day.
• Cathedral Pines County Park(opening Jan. 4) is located at 116 Yaphank Middle Island Road in Middle Island. It will be open on Tuesdays and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Testing Capacity: Up to 500 tests per day.

 Suffolk County residents with any questions are asked to contact Suffolk311.

On Monday, state and Northwell Health officials announced additional testing sites opening in the region.