CityMD is closing down 31 local urgent-care clinics due to staff shortages in the midst of a surge in the COVID Omicron variant, the health care company said Tuesday.
The shuttered clinics include 20 in the five boroughs for now, with more to come — the company said in a statement that more closures will be announced Wednesday.
A complete list of clinics that will temporarily be closed is included in the statement.
“As so many of you are aware, most CityMD locations are operating at full capacity, doing our best to meet the urgent care needs of the people of New York and New Jersey.”
“Continuing to provide these services to the community is a top priority,” the statement said. “However, our physicians and teammates are also a priority.”
The company said the move is necessary “to preserve our ability to staff our sites.”
The announcement comes as CityMD and other COVID-19 testing sites have been overwhelmed with demand as the Omicron variant spreads throughout the Big Apple.
“This isn’t good,” resident Kevin Sims, 45, said after showing up at a Jersey City clinic Tuesday for a COVID test only to find the doors locked.
“I can see flights being canceled, Broadway shows being canceled,” he said. “But urgent care? Kind of scary in a doomsday sort of way. I get it. They’re short staff and doing the best they can, but still scary.”
Lynne Algra, 52, was a bit more understanding.
“They’re going to get the most sick out of any profession, so it makes sense that some CityMDs have to close to make more with less,” Algra said. “Of course, this means longer lines at the ones that are staying open, but at least the weather’s been good.”
In addition to the New York City locations, five sites in New Jersey, four on Long Island, and two in Westchester County are also closing their doors for now.
The company has a total of 153 sites and lists all its locations online.
A worker at CityMD’s Boerum Hill, Brooklyn location on Tuesday said employees hadn’t been told how long the shutdown will last. The site is set to close Wednesday.
“It’s been lines going all the way around the corner even before I get here in the morning,” the worker said.
“It’s a crazy time. Everything is weird. “If you’re looking for urgent care in this neighborhood you might just have to walk a little bit further,” he added.
“Even if you show up here at noon, there’s a good chance that they are already filled up for the rest of the day.”
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