COVID Lines Grow As Omicron Surges
By Linda Steinmuller
COVID cases are on the rise…and so are local COVID testing lines.
With the recent surge of the Omicron variant, Brooklynites are flocking to various testing sites throughout the borough to see if they test positive for COVID-19.
Residents have reported waiting up to three to four hours – and sometimes longer – to take a COVID test.
Our photographers snapped these shots along Avenue N, near the Chai Urgent Care Center at 5322 Avenue N, as well as at the new EXA MD Urgent Care at 2128 Rockaway Parkway, near Schenck Street, where residents waited in the cold to get tested.
As of Monday, the state’s positivity rate reached an alarming 23.17 percent, causing shortages of workers in every industry.
Monday, January 3rd was the first day back to school for NYC students, following the Christmas holiday week. It was reported that only 67 percent of schoolchildren returned to the classroom on Monday, and one school in Brooklyn closed its doors due to a teacher/staff shortage, without alerting the DOE.
The winter surge is expected to continue, especially after the holiday season when families celebrated at large gatherings.
Photos by Loretta Chin and Boris Gorin