MTA: Subway services to see slowdown due to rise in COVID cases

Many people are heading back to work for the first time Monday after the Christmas holiday, but new subway service changes may make for a slow commute.

News 12 Staff

Dec 27, 2021, 11:35 AM

Updated 1,023 days ago

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Many people are heading back to work for the first time Monday after the Christmas holiday, but new subway service changes may make for a slow commute.
The MTA says it’s making service cuts because of the latest COVID surge as the Omicron variant sweeps through the city.
Officials say they’re working to keep service consistent, but that you may have a longer wait for your train, adding that reducing scheduled service will help them put train crews where they’re needed most to avoid canceling individual trips. They say staff shortages may improve as they start to implement the state’s new quarantine guidelines for essential workers. That allows for less time away from work for those fully vaccinated and not experiencing symptoms.
Gov. Kathy Hochul also made an announcement saying the state will now be offering testing at some subway station vaccine sites starting with Times Square and Grand Central Monday and expanding to five more stations soon.
Testing at the five additional locations begin on Thursday, Dec. 30: 
  • Penn Station (Manhattan) Monday – Sunday, 3:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
  • Broadway Junction (Brooklyn) Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
  • E. 180th St (Bronx) Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
  • Roosevelt Ave (Queens) Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
  • Jamaica–179th St (Queens) Monday – Friday, 2:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
The testing sites at Penn Station and Jamiaca-179th St will be closed on New Year’s Eve, and all sites will be closed on New Year’s Day. They will open again either on Sunday or Monday.
Subway schedules are continuing to change, which can be seen on the MTA’s website.