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
- Far Rockaway House Fire and Shooting Leaves Two DeadA Far Rockaway house fire and shooting left two dead and shocked the community as police and firefighters responded to the tragic scene. Read how the events unfolded and what comes next.
- Chain-Snatching Spree in Queens Prompts Precinct Coordination and Simple Safety StepsA chain-snatching spree in Queens has sparked coordinated police action and renewed conversations about neighborhood safety. Learn what steps you can take.
- 140 Rentals Proposed for Mixed-Use Building at 50-01 Queens BoulevardA 13-story mixed-use development is planned for 50-01 Queens Boulevard in Woodside, featuring ground-floor retail and 140 rental units, with a portion reserved as affordable housing. Learn about the proposal, affordable housing details, and the next steps for this evolving Queens neighborhood.
- Sgt. Angel Rampersad’s legacy and Ozone Park’s vigilSgt. Angel Rampersad’s legacy touches Ozone Park, Queens, and Roosevelt Island as neighbors reflect after the Ozone Park vigil. Community honors and conversations continue amid grief.
- Queensbridge assault, subway surfing injury, and Resorts World expansionExplore how Queens news and stories ripple to Roosevelt Island, connecting both communities through updates on events, culture, and everyday acts.
What the Promenade Remembers
The light on the East River in the early morning is different from the light anywhere else on the Island. It comes in low and sideways, catching the water in long, uneven flashes. On certain days it makes the promenade feel less like a walkway and more like a corridor someone once meant to finish but never quite did. When I was younger I found the suggestion to stop and look at it faintly ridiculous.
