In hard-hit New York City, antibody tests will be offered to over 150,000 health care workers and first responders, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Wednesday.
The aim is to begin testing by next week at hospitals, fire houses, police stations and correctional facilities. The goal is to test all health care workers and first responders within one month, the mayor said.
Antibody tests identify a likely past infection and provide confidence that the individual overcame the virus, the mayor said.
New York City officials will also be partnering with the military to provide mental health services to front-line workers experiencing combat stress.
Meanwhile, for the first time New York City is making marriage licenses available online due to the coronavirus.
The city’s IT department has built technology to enable online licensing to begin next week.
“We need moments of joy now more than ever, and we won’t let a pandemic get in the way of true love,” de Blasio said in a statement.
Citywide, 23% of the people tested on Monday were positive, down from 26% on Sunday.
New York City ICUs had 734 people with COVID-19 symptoms on Monday, down from 745 on Sunday.
But 136 people were admitted to city hospitals with coronavirus symptoms on Monday, up from 112 on Sunday.
The mayor called these numbers “progress, but not what we still need.”
