November 17th, 2020 – Medical professionals from American Family Care (AFC Urgent Care – Long Island) joined with Town of Islip Supervisor Angie Carpenter and Long Island MacArthur Airport Commissioner Shelley LaRose-Arken to present a new COVID-19 testing appointment system conducted at MacArthur Airport designed to minimize quarantine and take some of the stress out of travel while keeping New York healthy.
"“We hope to provide an easy option for travelers to sign up for testing as they arrive or return to the State of New York. Negative COVID-19 tests can help visitors and residents reduce quarantine time from two weeks to just four days,” explained LaRose-Arken.
“Offering rapid testing reservations at convenient, local locations provides flexibility and peace of mind for MacArthur Airport travelers. We continue to put an emphasis on healthy travel and want our customers to feel comfortable navigating their flight itineraries. We also want to build confidence that they are complying with the State of New York’s regulations while maintaining a focus on well-being and health in our community,” said Carpenter.
Personnel from AFC Urgent Care – Long Island, a private urgent care medical group with locations near the airport, will be available on premise at MacArthur Airport for arriving passengers beginning November 17. Trained AFC Urgent Care providers will have mobile equipment that will allow travelers to make reservations on-the-spot for either a PCR or rapid test. Additionally, these providers will be prepared to answer questions about the tests or the new guidelines and requirements recently announced by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo.
“We are finding both local residents and visitors have many questions, and this system will help them get answers and make necessary arrangements in a convenient and professional way right at the airport,” LaRose-Arken added.
“AFC Urgent Care has centers in East Meadow in Nassau County, and Farmingdale, West Islip and Lake Ronkonkoma in Suffolk County. For residents who live in New York and have insurance, the cost of the PCR test is 100 percent covered. Depending on insurance, there could be an additional fee for a rapid test.
“Our centers are open with extended hours and on weekends to best serve the health needs of Long Islanders and anyone visiting New York,” said Dr. Daniel La. “Travelers can make reservations in advance to get tested before they leave on a flight, and also when they return,” La added.
Rapid testing can produce results in as little as 15 minutes. The PCR test is slightly more accurate and may take three to five days for results. The New York Traveler Health Form states that a COVID-19 test must be taken 72 hours prior to arriving in New York State. The New York Department of Health reserves the right to request a copy of the test result. Any traveler arriving in New York must quarantine for 14 days or take a COVID-19 test on day four after arrival and quarantine until that second test is negative. Travelers from border states (NJ, CT, PA, MA, VT) are not required to quarantine or test.
