As New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo noted, “The most important thing you can do to fight the Covid-19 epidemic is to get tested”. To do this, the Big Apple has deployed a large device across the five boroughs from the city. Here is a non-exhaustive list of places to get tested without paying a dime.
In Manhattan
The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has set up several free rapid testing centers in Manhattan including Covid Express Chelsea (303 9th Ave), Covid Express Riverside on the Upper West Side (160 W 100th St) and Covid Express Central Harlem (2238 Fifth Ave., 1st floor). It is necessary to make an appointment on this link in these three clinics where the test results are available within 24 hours maximum. Note that the “rapid test” is an antigenic test whose reliability is less important than the “PCR test”, the results of which are analyzed in the laboratory. Only the “PCR test” is also accepted for flying to France from the United States.
The Governor Hospital in the Lower East Side offers a free PCR test for people without insurance. The test is accessible without appointment Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm, and on weekends until 2pm. Results within 3 to 5 days. 227 Madison Street, 844-692-4692.
On the Upper East Side, the NewYork-Presbyterian / Weill Cornell Medical Center offers free tests but by appointment only. The establishment is open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. We were unable to obtain information on the timeframe for results. 525 E 68th St, (212) 746-5454.
City MDs are also an option to get tested for free if you don’t have insurance (or without co-pay if you have insurance). In Union Square, the CityMD Urgent Care W. 14th (14 W. 14th St, 212-390-0558) welcomes New Yorkers daily walk-in from 8am to 10:45 pm. For people in the Downton Manhattan neighborhood, the CityMD Urgent Care Fulton (138 Fulton St., 212-271-4896) also welcomes you without an appointment Monday through Friday 8am to 7pm and weekends until 3pm. The full list of City MD here. The channel is currently announcing 3 to 4 days of waiting for the result.
In Brooklyn
In South Williamsburg, the Jonathan Williams Houses Clinic offers free, walk-in PCR testing Monday through Friday 9am to 3:30 pm, and until 2pm on weekends. Results within 3 to 5 days. 333 Roebling Street, 844-692-4692.
On the Bushwick side, the NYC Health + Hospitals / Woodhull offers the free walk-in PCR test Monday through Sunday between 8:30 am and 3:30 pm. Results within 3 to 5 days. 760 Broadway, 718-963-8000.
The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene also has a rapid testing center in Downtown Brooklyn, near Fort Greene Park (295 Flatbush Avenue). Here you have to make an appointment in advance. Results of the “rapid test” within 24 hours.
Several City MDs also offer free Brooklyn tests. Among them, the City MD Urgent Care Williamsburg (154 North 7th St, 718-414-2013) which is open without an appointment Monday through Friday 8am to 8pm, and weekends 9am to 6pm, and City MD Urgent Care Bed-Stuy (1243 Fulton Street) located in the neighborhood of the same name, open Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm, and weekends 9am to 5pm.
