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Suffolk to Hand Out Free At-home Covid Tests Next Week

covid tests
Rapid SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Test kits are seen in this illustration taken, January 13, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic

Suffolk County will distribute about 3,000 free at-home Covid tests on Monday, March 21, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone announced.

Residents are encouraged to pick up testing kits for their households between 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. in the lobby of the H. Lee Dennison Building at 100 Veterans Memorial Hwy. in Hauppauge.

“As we continue to navigate our new normal, with progress being made every day, it is still important to ensure that our residents, including our most vulnerable populations, have access to all of the tools necessary to fight this virus and keep themselves safe,” Bellone said. “Testing plays a vital role in keeping this virus under control and will be absolutely critical as we begin to live with this virus as part of our everyday lives.”

Suffolk’s Covid-19 positivity rate has been below 2% for the past two weeks, since Feb. 22, for the first time since July 2021. The Covid tests will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

When we test ourselves for COVID-19, we are able to make informed and responsible choices to seek any necessary care and protect others, especially those who are vulnerable,” said Suffolk County Health Commissioner Dr. Gregson Pigott.

The March 21 test kit event is just one way for residents to obtain Covid-19 tests. They can also buy them at a local drug store. Most health insurance plans cover the cost of the at-home, over-the-counter tests. In addition, each U.S. household is eligible for two sets of free at-home tests and can obtain them at covidtests.gov.

For more coronavirus coverage, visit longislandpress.com/coronavirus.

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