Southern Tier, NY (WENY) -- The Southern Tier and Finger Lakes region are getting some help in the battle against COVID-19.

An agreement was reached between Congressman Tom Reed (R, NY-23) and Quest Diagnostics. Quest Diagnostics announced that they’re committed to helping Central and Western New York, plus the Southern Tier re-open. They’ll be providing regions with thousands of surplus test kits. The test kits will provide coverage to around the population of the area which is nearly 3 million people. Quest Diagnostics is looking to help meet demands of the three region.

The demands are part of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s re-open initiative. Part of the plan to re-open includes regions meeting twelve requirements. Thanks to Quest Diagnostics some can now check testing regiment off the list.

“This is to demonstrate that there can be no question that the testing requirements in order to re-open can now be met,” said Reed.

Reed announced the partnership with quest diagnostics during a media availability phone call Thursday afternoon. Quest Diagnostics is ready to supply 3,000 test kits a day to the regions, on top of their existing capacity.

“What we are presenting here is a resource that is designed to supplement the testing capacity that is being put together by our hospitals,” said Reed.

“It's definitely a good step in adding this capacity to the existing capacity in the region; meets the metrics, makes a strong argument for allowing and justifying economic opening,” said Dr. Martin Stallone, the CEO of Cayuga Medical Health.

Many regions throughout Central and Western New York were facing two big hurdles, in the requirements to re-open. One hurdle was contact tracing. Thanks to Quest Diagnostics, the other was testing regiments.

“At this point we're certainly looking to shut the door on that metric that was unreachable but now we're able to achieve it,” said Geoff Albrecht, the Vice President of the region for Quest Diagnostics.

Test distribution will also help the regions handle another requirement. Each region must set up a centralized “control room”. Regional councils will work with healthcare providers and Quest Diagnostics and determine where the tests should be sent.

“There's a lot of elements that come into this scenario and it's certainly a team sport when it comes to delivering care,” said NYSAC President, Jack Marren.

The hope is by meeting the demand, the region's will be ready to re-open.

“This is one more piece of the puzzle to re-open parts of New York state that need to get open and can get re-open,” said Dawn Burlew, the Government Affairs Director for Corning Inc.

Quest Diagnostics is ready to ship out their test on May 18th. Cuomo's hope is to start slowly reopening the state on May 15th. Once a need is placed, the tests could be delivered within 48 hours.