NYC Police Arrive to Quell Crowd as It Turns Out Not Everyone Gets Free COVID Test - Photo, Video
© REUTERS / EDUARDO MUNOZ
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Earlier, NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the opening of 120 city testing sites amid an unprecedented surge in COVID-19 cases due to the Omicron variant.
Police had to intervene to calm down a crowd at a Brooklyn corner in New York City where free at-home COVID-19 tests were being distributed on Friday, media reported.
A video emerged online showing long queues formed on Flatbush and Church avenues where free testing kits were being handed out.
The line for free at home COVID tests here in Brooklyn is over 3 block long and growing pic.twitter.com/C7lQUooBCX
— Bruce we're moving faster? Schaff (@anunnamedpoet) December 24, 2021
When it became clear that there won't be enough tests for everyone, some people got angry and started yelling at the city health officials who were distributing the kits.
Desperate New Yorkers scramble for free at-home Covid tests being distributed in Brooklyn. The city was overwhelmed even before Omicron. Where was the planning?? (Pic by Getty) pic.twitter.com/4aAbqqiQAF
— Josie Ensor (@Josiensor) December 24, 2021
Frustrated New Yorkers scrambled for free COVID tests at a truck in Brooklyn
— Space-reporter-news (@Spacereportern1) December 24, 2021
One woman appeared visibly upset by the melee, with police also present
Five city sites, including the Brooklyn location, handed out 2,000 free tests Friday pic.twitter.com/y55q6TBEyj
Earlier this week, NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio said that dozens of testing sites were opened in all five boroughs of the city as well as corners where at-home COVID-19 tests would be given for free. However, some sites had to close earlier on Friday and Saturday due to a lack of tests.
According to the city health officials, the number of confirmed Omicron cases stood at nearly 39,000 on Thursday alone, and it looks these figures will only be rising throughout the holiday season.
