With schools opening, workers returning to offices and travel increasing, a COVID test may be in your future. But the landscape has changed since the Delta variant surge, especially for Roosevelt Island, where RIOC closed its mystery-filled Swift Testing Site in June.
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
A generously thorough article in The Gothamist tracks the changes with good guidance forward.

Cut the Crap, Get Tested, Get Vaccinated Now
But if your big interest is getting tested, right now, for free and with fast results, your best choice is among city run sites. Some are mobile and some are set in concrete.
For Roosevelt Islanders, the easiest options are Metropolitan Hospital at 1901 First Avenue, just a short walk north from the 90th Street NYC Ferry Landing. (Register here or just walk in.) Times Square Testing at 701 Seventh Avenue also accepts walk-ins and is easily accessible via F Train.
Get tested immediately if you have any concerning symptoms or other worries about recent exposure. Wear a mask. Get vaccinated.
And take advantage of easy and free testing options.
More from the Roosevelt Island Daily
- 700,000-home housing gap mapped by neighborhoodNYC’s path forward: meeting the 700,000 home housing challenge offers a roadmap for closing the city’s housing gap, with neighborhood-level solutions and coordinated action.
- Building Queens conference on Long Island City developmentLong Island City’s rapid development is driving discussions at the Building Queens conference, where stakeholders will address construction, housing, and the changing skyline.
- NYC Small Business Grant Program Invests $8.4 Million in Local Community OrganizationsNYC launches an $8.4 million small business grant program supporting community-based organizations to empower local entrepreneurs and boost neighborhood commercial corridors.
- Hate-crime charges after Central Synagogue Shabbat disruptionA man was charged with hate crimes after disrupting a Shabbat service at Central Synagogue in Midtown Manhattan. The incident raised concerns about worshipper safety and led to increased police patrols and community care.
- Forest Hills E train threat and Jackson Heights station stabbingTwo recent assaults on Queens subway lines have led to ongoing transit investigations, prompting increased safety measures and community response across key commuting routes.
Ten Years, or Another Temporary Fix?
Roosevelt Island was built through public investment, then expected to support itself through development. The ten-year lease extension gives RIOC a rare chance to replace short-term deals with a financial system designed to outlast the people approving them.










