NEW YORK - Mayor Bill de Blasio on Monday announced the city will begin a new way of testing New Yorkers that aims to increase the amount administered as well as reduce the health risk for those charged with collecting the samples.

In what he calls self-swab testing, the mayor says the new process will be available at NYC Health + Hospital sites across the city beginning over the next few days.

After instructions from a health care worker, a patient will face a mirror and spit into a cup and swab their nostril.

The mirror will allow the health care worker to make sure the patient correctly executes the sample collection while providing increased protection.

The sample is then sent off to a lab.

The mayor reiterated testing will be the key to reopening the city.

To begin the process of contact tracing, the city is also looking to hire 1,000 health care professionals immediately.

They will be work with patients who test positive for COVID-19 and will work to track down anyone they may have come in contact with to coordinate testing and possible isolation measures.

The jobs are posted at fphnyc.org.

As far as the latest data, the mayor says the number of people admitted to hospitals for suspected COVID-19 is 122, down from  144 as of April 24.

There are currently 766 patients in H+H ICUs for suspected COVID-19, down from 768.

The citywide percentage of people tested who are positive for COVID-19 is flat at 29 percent, while the public health lab is 55 percent, up from 46 percent.

The mayor also announced the city will suspend alternate side parking rules through Tuesday, May 12.

The city will also offer 40 miles of open streets within the next month, beginning with streets in and around parks.

 

The mayor says he worked with the City Council and Speaker Corey Johnson on the effort and the goal is to get 100 miles for the duration of the coronavirus.