April 26, 2020 | 10:48pm
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced over the weekend that testing for the coronavirus would dramatically expand across New York. Here’s how it will work and impact the Empire State’s eventual reopening, according to state health officials.
Q. If you get tested, does the result automatically go into some kind of database?
A. Yes, your result will be logged into both a state and county database through an electronic lab reporting system. The database includes your name.
Q. If you test positive, what happens?
A. You should be notified of your result by your county health department and ordered to quarantine for 14 days from the date of your last symptom. You also will be asked who you have come into personal contact with and to what extent. At least some of those people may be told to quarantine as well.
Local health departments will typically require some kind of daily monitoring, including phone calls, texts or even an in-person visit.
At this stage, a negative test is not required to finish your quarantine.
Q. How does this affect the state’s reopening?
A. Testing is just one piece of the puzzle, officials say. It will be used as a marker to help indicate whether the virus is continuing to thrive, as will such factors as hospitalization and death rates.
Q. Is there a specific number of tests that health officials believe need to be done before the state reopens?
A. No. Test results will be constantly monitored along with other major factors to see what the trend is.
Q. Is it clear that COVID-19 leaves survivors with antibodies so they can’t catch it again?
A. Tests are still being conducted to determine if that’s the case and whether any antibodies produced might provide a lifelong protection against COVID-19 or if there may be a time limit to that coverage.
