New York City Hospital’s Test and Trace van is coming back to Roosevelt Island, next week, according to City Council Member-elect Julie Menin. And this time, it’s even better because it includes vaccines.
By David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
Test and Trace Coming Back
UPDATE, December 14, 2021: In response to our question, Menin confirmed the information she provided yesterday and added some information. “I spoke to the City’s Test and Trace yesterday and confirmed again this morning -they said they will be there 12/20-12/24 and the van will do test and vax. They are closed on the 25th. They will evaluate future dates after next week looking at the 7 day positivity rate of RI.”
END OF UPDATE
Alarms went off after mixed messages led Roosevelt Islanders into expecting the HHC Test and Trace van parked at Good Shepherd Plaza again this week. But the spot was empty on Monday. That was consistent with what Menin first promised, but not with expectations raised by State Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright.
So, we asked both directly via Twitter. By mid-afternoon, we had Menin’s answer. If accurate, the addition of vaccinations would be spectacular, but we still don’t know which vaccines.
Menin first announced the van after strenuous efforts by Seawright, Borough President Gale Brewer and others failed. She attributed her success to the array of contacts she developed while leading three city agencies.
Seawright never answered but tweeted independently.
The dueling messages again present residents with a dilemma. The officials have conflicting end dates for the van, and Seawright never mentions vaccines. The Daily will try sorting out the differences later today.
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You Can’t Be All Three
April 9, 2026, during the full board meeting of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation, Fay Christian said something that should have landed harder than it did. She wished RIOC were not responsible for the tram. Then she asked what it would look like if it were given to the MTA. That was not a passing comment.
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