Cuomo Extends Testing to Broad Array of Human Services, Behavioral Health Workforce
NYAPRS E News April 25, 2020
Contact: Harvey Rosenthal 518-527-0564
At this morning’s daily news conference, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that New York now has sufficient COVID-19 testing capacity to extend eligibility for those tests beyond those who are symptomatic to include a broad array of first responders, front line healthcare workers and essential employees.
Some examples include:
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First Responders: fire fighters, police officers, paramedics, EMTs, correction/parole/probation officers,
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Frontline Health Care Workers including:
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Physicians, Nurses, Medical Specialists, Psychologists, Psychiatrists, Residential Care program Managers, OT/PT/RT therapists
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Essential Employees including:
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‘Client facing’ Case Managers and Coordinators
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Child care workers
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Human Services Workers
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Social Workers
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Mental Health, Addiction, Youth, Vocational counselors
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Shelter Workers and Homelessness Support Staff
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Teachers
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Faith-based leaders
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“We are extremely grateful that New York has now reached the point where the health, behavioral health and broader human services workforce can now access testing that will help better protect the people we serve and the dedicated workforce we represent,” said Harvey Rosenthal, CEO, New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services. “Testing of this magnitude is a long awaited win-win for all New Yorkers, as all of us are both patients or practitioners at any one time.”
Great thanks are due to the extraordinary leadership of Governor Cuomo and for the courage and service of our dedicated healthcare, behavioral healthcare and broader human services workforce during these extraordinary times.”