AOC gets tested for coronavirus antibodies in Queens district

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was tested for coronavirus antibodies over the holiday weekend at one of the newly-launched testing sites in her home district of Queens.

In a video uploaded by the Congresswoman to Twitter Saturday, Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) could be seen saying “There we go, easy peasy, that was easy,” as she had her blood drawn by a health care professional.

After the test was completed, the nurse told AOC that she should expect to receive a call in five days with her results.

The Democratic socialist wrote in a tweet accompanying the video that she received her test at the First Baptist Church in Flushing, Queens, which is located in her district.

“Did you know? There are 2 types of COVID tests! The nasal swab tests if you have COVID now. Antibody blood tests check if you already had COVID, even w/ few or no symptoms,” the New York Democrat tweeted, “I got my antibody test today at First Baptist in Queens w/ our amazing nurses. You can get one too!”

Last week, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a new effort to bring down the high Covid-19 infection rates in low-income and minority communities in New York City. The effort included the establishment of 28 additional testing sites at churches and community-based providers.

The move came as an outcome of New York state’s antibody testing survey, which showed those populations in the city facing a higher rate of infection than that of the city’s overall population.

AOC is the second major New York lawmaker to take one of the coronavirus tests while on camera.

Earlier this month, Cuomo was tested for the coronavirus during a press briefing in order to promote more widespread screening in the state.

“It is so fast and easy that even a governor can take this test,” Cuomo told reporters in Albany, before rising from his seat to greet a PPE-clad doctor.

The governor hammed it up as the doctor produced a swab and instructed him to close his eyes.

The doctor explained that the test can cause some people to tear up, as she inserted the swab into the governor’s nostril for a few seconds.

The test later came back negative.