New York City is taking a big step towards getting wide scale coronavirus testing.
By the end of the week, New York City will have 30-thousand coronavirus tests kits made by a local company and it will soon churn out 50 thousand a week. Mayor de Blasio says the global marketplace was just not working.
“We’ll have all the pieces come together and for the first time in the city’s history, we will have our own test kits produced in large numbers right here in the five boroughs.”
Mayor de Blasio is now asking the federal government to help process the tests.
“We need their help with lab capacity. We’re still not getting the help we need and we’re going to keep fighting for it.”
The mayor says testing is the key to fighting back the virus. Meanwhile, de Blasio is warning that New York City cannot make mistakes other countries have in trying to lift coronavirus restrictions too soon and too quickly. On Sunday, the mayor gave three examples of other countries where the number of coronavirus cases surged after restrictions were abruptly lifted.
“Even a small number of cases can lead to that resurgence if the right restrictions aren’t in place.”
The mayor says in order for the city get somewhat back to normal, restrictions need to continue for now.