Nassau County Executive Laura Curran has announced a partnership with New York State and Northwell to provide free drive-through COVID-19 rapid testing in Great Neck in response to a recent increase in infections. Testing begins today at North Shore Hebrew Academy (16 Cherry Ln, Great Neck, NY 11024), and hours of operation will be Monday – Friday 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Appointments are required and can be made by calling 1-833-4CARENY (1-833-422-7369). All COVID-19 testing is provided free regardless of immigration status.

“In partnership with New York State and Northwell, Nassau is expanding COVID-19 testing in Great Neck after a recent increase in infections. As COVID-19 cases spike to record numbers nationwide, let’s remain vigilant and proactive. Nassau County will continue to respond to micro-spikes —wherever they may pop up — with testing, tracing, and community outreach. I thank all the men and women at Northwell for the life-saving work they do every day,” said Nassau County Executive Laura Curran.

Rapid response COVID-19 Diagnostic Testing will be completed utilizing BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag CARD Tests that will be provided by Nassau County. Northwell Health will also provide and administer PCR/diagnostic testing to validate the results of the BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag CARD tests. A drive through model of test delivery will be employed. Community members will be directed to remain in their cars and go to an available testing station to receive their nasal swabs for the two diagnostic tests.

When the testing administration is completed, community members will be directed to wait in their cars in the parking lot of North Shore Hebrew Academy to receive their rapid response results, directions as to how to get their PCR/diagnostic test results and related educational material. Once rapid response test results and educational material have been disseminated, community members will be directed as to where to exit the testing site.

Testing will be available to community members who are aged 8 and older. Individuals who are under 18 will be consented by a parent or guardian. Testing will be open to Nassau County residents only and will be by appointment only.

“COVID-19 has greatly disrupted our lives and hit our most vulnerable communities the hardest. As cases are slightly increasing in our area, we need to make sure we go above and beyond to stop outbreaks from occurring. We are committed to keeping our communities safe, and this testing initiative will go a long way for the Jewish community like it has for so many others we are working with across Long Island and metro New York,” said Deb Salas-Lopez, MD, MPH, Northwell Health Senior Vice President of Community and Population Health.

“Unfortunately we are beginning to see the spike in new Covid cases that all the experts predicted would happen this fall, but unlike when the virus hit us from Europe last spring, we now have the tools in place to deal with it and contain it before it becomes another outbreak here in Nassau County. By strategically deploying convenient testing opportunities in hot spot areas like we are doing in Great Neck, we are helping more people to find out their status, and take appropriate action to stop the spread. It’s a strategy that has worked in areas around the state, and I’m grateful to Governor Cuomo for his leadership on this strategy, and for the partnership of County Executive Curran, North Shore Hebrew Academy, and Northwell Health in getting it implemented,” said State Senator Anna Kaplan.

“For fifty-six years, the North Shore Hebrew Academy has been proud to call Great Neck its home. To be able to serve our community now in these unpredictable times in such a way is an honor and helps us model for our students our core value of achrayut, responsibility, for our entire community and for the world,” Rabbi Jeffrey Kobrin, Head of School, North Shore Hebrew Academy

“I applaud New York State, Nassau County, and Northwell Health for working collaboratively to open a COVID-19 testing center in Great Neck. The health and well-being of our residents is of paramount importance, and having easy access to a testing site will be vital to the residents of Great Neck and the greater North Hempstead community,” said North Hempstead Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth.

“Establishing this testing site in Great Neck will ease the procedure for the public to get tested during the critically important weeks to come. I thank County Executive Curran for her steady and consistent leadership throughout this entire pandemic, and strongly encourage anybody who may have COVID-19 symptoms or may have been exposed to the virus to make an appointment and get tested right away,” said Nassau County Legislator Ellen W. Birnbaum (D – Great Neck).