At-Home Test Kits Are Ready To Be Distributed

By Brian M. Johnson, The Bristol Press

January 3, 2021

Delayed shipments of covid-19 test kits arrived overnight. They will be distributed as soon as possible said Gov. Ned Lamont during a press conference on New Year’s Eve.

Lamont spoke at Connecticut’s COVID-19 commodities warehouse in New Britain. He was joined by Major General Francis J. Evon Jr., Adjutant General of the Connecticut National Guard, in answering questions about the 426,000 rapid test kits and 850,000 N95 masks that have now made their way to Connecticut. The kits were piled high in large boxes all around them.

Many local communities had previously announced times and places where residents could pick up covid-19 test kits on Thursday or Friday this week. However, on Thursday, most of these events were canceled due to the previous shipping delays. Lamont said that he is now trying to begin distribution to municipalities as soon as possible.

“I am urging municipalities to make sure that these go to the folks who are most in need,” he said. “If you are showing symptoms, take a test. You don’t need to run to the emergency room. If you are a teacher going into a public school Monday, take a test. If you test positive, stay home and quarantine for five days. Then, if you can, get a second test to make sure that you test negative.”

Lamont added that more tests will be made available in the coming weeks. By then, he said, the state should be “in really good shape” as production of test kits is being “ramped up.” He said that he is doing “everything we can to keep the people in Connecticut safe.” To that end, his primary focus, he said, is getting more test kits into the state.

“This spike up was a surprise for the Federal government,” he said. “For the past two years, we have been a day late and a dollar short. We’re learning along the way, but we’re way ahead of 48 other states. I have had multiple conversations to try to get us to the front of the line for distributions. This has accelerated big time in the last couple of weeks.”

Lamont said that while had been assured by the federal government that test kits would be made available, he did not want to wait for them and took proactive steps to ensure a quicker distribution. He credited municipal leaders including Mayor Luke Bronin of Hartford and Mayor Erin Stewart of New Britain for doing the same.

Lamont said that he has no plans to bring back the mask mandate any time soon. He said that, in restaurants, many people are choosing to wear masks indoors.

“Be extra careful this New Year’s if you’re getting together,” he said yesterday. “We’re still dealing with a spike from the holidays and we don’t want to see an acceleration.”

Lamont also said that he does not plan to close schools. He intends to keep the existing “screen and stay” policies in place. Schools are allowed to offer remote learning for those who are at-risk or immune compromised. However, he said that remote learning does not compare to in-person education.

“We found out a year ago that we can do in-person learning safely,” he said. “I believe that we can do the same thing with this omicron variant. Virtually all teachers are vaccinated and have access to N95 masks.”

Lamont said that with the covid-19 spike, there is still “good capacity” in hospitals in the southern part of the state. However, he acknowledged that things are “tighter” in the central part of Connecticut.

Lamont also acknowledged that local restaurant owners had suffered a 30% decline in profits due to the recent covid spike. This, he said, he “doesn’t wish on anyone.”

“People may feel more comfortable coming to restaurants with outdoor dining options or that ask if people are vaccinated,” he suggested.

Brian M. Johnson can be reached at 860-973-1806 or bjohnson@bristolpress.com.