State Distributing Free COVID-19 Tests to Dozen Berkshire Communities
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A dozen Berkshire communities are among 102 towns and cities selected to receive at-home COVID-19 test kits through the state.
Gov. Charlie Baker announced on Monday morning that 2.1 million iHealth Labs over-the-counter, at-home rapid antigen tests to 102 towns with the highest percentage of families below the poverty level.
The local communities receiving these tests are Adams, Clarksburg, Florida, Great Barrington, Hinsdale, Mount Washington, North Adams, Peru, Pittsfield, Savoy, West Stockbridge and Williamstown.
The tests are to be given out to those who may not have the financial means to purchase home tests.
Baker, speaking during a livestream press conference from Boston, said the communities selected were at the lowest numbers with respect to income and places where the tests would really make a difference.
"Rather than defining specifically how those might be used in those communities, we decided to make them available to communities," he said. "Those communities with the best process for distribution — there'll be some broad parameters on it — but generally speaking, we want them to do what they think makes the most sense."
The governor said access to home testing is particularly important heading into the holidays when individuals may be around more and different people than usual. The state, and county, is currently seeing a surge in positive cases not dissimilar to last year's holiday spike when people were attending gatherings.
The anti-gen tests have become much more accurate in determining positive cases of the novel coronavirus, said state officials.
"The most important thing to do here was to make them available in those communities on a grand scale, that we make it possible for them to distribute them to a lot of the folks for whom the price tag is probably beyond their reach," said the governor. "In the future, communities will be able to replenish those orders and spend some of the federal money they've currently got.
"This will make it possible for them to be a little more aggressive about how they think about distribution generally as we head into the holidays."
He said there were no plans to bring back the statewide mask mandate, saying the state is in a very different situation with some 6 million people vaccinated and boosters available.
Up to 100,000 tests are being done daily statewide and about 70,000 to 80,000 a week through the schools' test and stay program.
The cost for the tests is $10 million and they are expected to be distributed over the next four or five days.
The administration also posted a procurement opportunity on Friday, Dec. 10, for manufacturers, and municipalities will be able to order more tests in January 2022 at state-negotiated prices.
"I think the recommendation is if you're going to be an indoor gathering with people, particularly you don't know, that's one good example of when to take the test," said Marylou Sudders, secretary of health and human services.
Those testing positive should isolate for up to 10 days and notify any close contacts.
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