Despite non-stop news coverage, an unprecedented public awareness campaign, and the enormous public health threat caused by the coronavirus pandemic, some Bronxites are still finding it difficult to get tested, locate a testing site, or even get someone on the phone to answer questions.

 

Wakefield carpenter Bruce Bennett, 56, said he’s been calling the City’s health department and 311 for so long, he now believes that if he had the infection, it has probably gone away already. He also called an out-of-state number he had seen on TV. During a telephone interview on Wednesday, Apr. 8, Bennett said, “I’ve been calling for about two or three weeks now”. He added, “I called 311, I left my number; they have it. They even called me back.”

 

Like many Americans, Bennett thinks he’s had the coronavirus, a disease that can affect the lungs and airways. He would like to get tested so that he can go back to work. “Unless you’re on death’s bed, they don’t want to test you,” he said, appearing frustrated. “I had it. I’m feeling better now.”

 

The City’s health department lists COVID-19 main symptoms as having a fever of 100.4 degrees or greater, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, as well as a sore throat. Some patients have also reported a loss of a sense of taste or smell, body aches, headaches and diarrhea.

 

“Since last Monday, over seven days since, I’ve had symptoms,” Bennett said, listing fever, muscle-aches and headaches among the reasons for his belief he’s had the virus. He certainly meets the requirements for testing. “A co-worker I had worked with a week before had tested positive,” he said. When asked how his colleague was doing, Bennett said, “No, he’s still around. I think I haven’t talked to him in a week”.

Anyone who has symptoms of COVID-19, and who cannot attribute them to a pre-existing health condition such as asthma or emphysema, should consider that they may have the virus. If you have mild to moderate symptoms, the advice is to isolate yourself at home immediately. After three to four days, if you still feel sick, contact your health care provider. Call, text, use telemedicine or use your patient portal to contact your physician. If you have very severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, call 911.

 

Do not go to the emergency department or other places to seek health care if you are not severely ill. Stay home and keep health care access available for others with more severe illness.

 

Priority for testing goes to the severely ill, the elderly, first responders and health care workers, as well as those with pre-existing conditions. It also includes travelers who have recently returned from a country for which the Center for Disease Control has issued a Level 2 or Level 3 Travel Health Notice, or anyone who has come into contact with someone who has tested positive for the coronavirus.

 

Vulnerable New Yorkers, including the elderly, those with pre-existing conditions, or those with symptoms can call 1-844-NYC-4NYC and a healthcare professional can assess the risk for the particular individual. Testing is free to all eligible New Yorkers.

 

NYC Health & Hospitals, which runs 11 major hospitals and has 42,000 employees across the five boroughs, has set-up, in conjunction with FEMA, the Army National Guard, New York State Police and Montefiore Hospital, at least nine testing sites in the Bronx. Testing is by appointment only.

 

Bronx residents who have symptoms, who believe they have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, and would like to be tested, can be assessed by calling the COVID-19 hotline at 888-364-3065.

 

Testing locations in the Bronx:

• Jacobi Hospital, 1400 Pelham Parkway South: Drive-through and walk-in testing available by appointment only.
• Lincoln Hospital, 234 East 149 Street: Walk-in testing by appointment only.
• BronxCare, formerly Bronx-Lebanon Hospital, 1650 Grand Concourse: Walk-in testing by appointment only.
• North Central Bronx Hospital, 3424 Kossuth Avenue: Walk-in testing by appointment only.
• Montefiore locations: Moses Campus & Jack D. Weiler Hospital, Wakefield and any other admitting facility.

 

On Apr. 9, Gov. Andrew Cuomo confirmed in a newsletter that the State will also be opening a walk-in facility at a health care center in the South Bronx next week. No details were provided about the exact location of the additional site. This story will be updated once we receive more information. Testing at this site will be by appointment only. Residents who would like to be tested at this facility must make an appointment by calling 888-364-3065.

 

Finally, the FDA has approved New York State to authorize the State’s 28 public and private labs to carry out manual, semi-automated and automated testing for the novel coronavirus. The approval allows the State to dramatically increase testing capacity to thousands of tests per day. The approval also extends to the Roche high-volume platform for testing. Again, testing is free to all eligible New Yorkers, as ordered by a health care provider or by calling the NYS COVID-19 hotline at 1-888-364-3065.

 

Text COVID to 692-692 to get regular updates or text COVIDESP to 692-692 for updates in Spanish.

 

*Síle Moloney contributed additional reporting to this story.