Senator Michelle Hinchey Partners with State to Announce Free COVID-19 Rapid Testing Site in Kingston

Kingston, NY…State Senator Michelle Hinchey (SD-46) today announced that she has secured, through her advocacy with the Governor’s office, a new COVID-19 rapid testing site in the City of Kingston. Starting today, Monday, March 1, HealthAlliance Hospital will serve as a community testing site free of charge for people in the Hudson Valley.

Currently, the nearest state-run rapid testing sites open to Hudson Valley residents are in Albany and Rockland counties. In an effort to expand testing for area residents, Hinchey worked closely with the Executive’s office to launch a Kingston-based site focused on free testing for all. Rapid tests administered at the new site will produce results in 15 minutes and help mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

“Finding fast and free COVID testing has been a major challenge across Upstate New York. Recognizing this urgent need, we advocated for Kingston to serve as the newest location for a state-supported rapid testing site, and we’re thrilled that we were able to secure one so quickly,” said Senator Hinchey. “We are greatly appreciative of the state for partnering with us to help residents in the Hudson Valley. We will continue to work with our state, federal, and local colleagues to ensure equitable access to COVID testing throughout Upstate New York.”

“As we continue to fight the COVID virus and distribute the vaccine to New Yorkers, rapid testing will be critical to our efforts to reopen the economy and achieve a semblance of normalcy in the short term,” Governor Cuomo said. “This new rapid testing site will help Kingston’s residents get quick and efficient test results to keep themselves and their families safe. It’s vital that all New Yorkers have access to testing regardless of where they live, and this site will address that need and help the community make educated health decisions as we all navigate the daily challenges of this pandemic.”​

“We are proud to continue to partner with New York State on addressing the needs of our communities,” said Michael D. Israel, President and CEO of WMCHealth, the parent organization of HealthAlliance. “We have provided COVID-19 testing services at numerous community locations—conducting nearly 200,000 tests for our communities to date—and are working with New York State, local government, and community partners as the Hub lead supporting vaccine coordination in the Hudson Valley. WMCHealth’s COVID-19 response, from testing to vaccination, to treatment, is part of our broader commitment to the health and well-being of the communities we serve. I want to thank Governor Cuomo and Senator Hinchey for spearheading this effort in Kingston.”

The HealthAlliance rapid testing site in Kingston will be open to all residents by appointment and is located at 27 Grand Street, Kingston, NY 12401. The testing site will operate Monday – Friday from 9 AM – 5 PM.

New Yorkers can schedule an appointment online here or by calling 914-202-4530.

Senator Hinchey’s office continues to support constituents with access to information and resources to navigate the challenges posed by the pandemic, including assistance locating food or health services, applying for small business assistance, accessing unemployment insurance, and more. Residents of the 46th Senate District can contact Senator Hinchey’s office at (845) 331-3810, Monday – Friday, from 9 AM – 5 PM. Assistance is available in English and Spanish.

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