SUBSCRIBE NOW Only $3.5 per monthNew York City is creating the first mobile testing units in the US that will allow those who test positive for the coronavirus to immediately receive free antiviral treatment Paxlovid.Mayor Eric Adams said offering immediate prescriptions to people who test positive on mobile sites will help address concerns about inequities in the distribution of antiviral treatments.Adams announced the new program yesterday in Manhattan with Dr. Ashish Jha, the White House's COVID-19 response coordinator, The New York Times reported.As of Thursday, three of the city's mobile testing units include a doctor who can prescribe antiviral drugs for those who are eligible.The units are located near local pharmacies that can fill those prescriptions right away.The first three sites are in the Inwood neighborhood of Manhattan, South Ozone Park in Queens and the East Bronx, all areas far from downtown and with many working-class residents.The number of mobile sites that can offer the prescription will expand to more than 30 by the end of July, local officials said, adding that by the end of this summer the city will begin offering antiviral drugs directly at those mobile units, rather than through through a nearby pharmacy.The mayor's office already offers free home delivery of antiviral treatments.The national “Test to Treat” mobile unit program is part of NYC and federal efforts to reduce the impact of the virus and prepare for future waves of cases.Health officials want to improve access to antiviral drugs for vulnerable people who may not be aware of the treatment or may not have a primary care doctor or health insurance."By putting life-saving medicine in the hands of New Yorkers minutes after they test positive, we are once again leading the nation in rapidly bringing accessible care to those who need it," Mayor Adams said in a statement.President Joe Biden announced a national “Test to Treat” effort in his State of the Union address in March.The federal program relies on hundreds of local pharmacy clinics and community health centers to prescribe antiviral treatments on the spot.No other city besides New York has used mobile test units for that program.Since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, at the moment the state of New York has added 5.7 million infections, with 70 thousand deaths, the majority in NYC.New York City is creating the first mobile testing units in the US that will allow people who test positive for the coronavirus to immediately receive for free the antiviral treatment Paxlovid.https://t.co/a3uzndOwPW—The New York Times (@nytimes) July 1, 2022have you forgotten your password?remember mePlease check your details and try againYour account does not have any active subscription.Subscribe again hereDon't have an account yet?Sign up hereDear subscriber, you must generate a new password for El Diario NY.Please check your email to get your new password to access El Diario NY.Thanks for being a subscriber!you have free items leftUnlimited access to news from your community