Covid-19 Test Kits Available Soon In Chester

CHESTER, CT — First Selectwoman Laurent Gister informed town residents about Covi-19 test kits and more in the following letter:

"Dear Chester -

Happy Holidays!

As most of you know, the rate of positive COVID infections has skyrocketed in the past 3-4 weeks in Connecticut. Today's positivity rate was over 10% statewide, and the number of hospitalizations is fast approaching 1000. Within our health district, there have been over 250 new positive cases in the past seven days, and those do not include any home antigen test results. While Chester is still at the low end of our surrounding towns, our rates are up substantially, with 9 new cases in the past week.

Governor Ned Lamont today announced plans to distribute three million COVID-19 at-home rapid tests and six million N95 masks in Connecticut in an effort to help curb the spread of COVID-19 during this heavy travel and holiday season.

The first allocation will include the distribution of 500,000 iHealth kits – each containing two tests for a total of one million tests – that will be designated for the general public. Distribution of these kits is scheduled to begin on Thursday, December 30, 2021, and is expected to run through the following week based on test kit availability. Chester expects to receive 540 test kits for distribution to town residents. Each kit is intended for one person, with two tests included. If the first test is negative, the second test should be used for a retest 2-3 days later. This initiative is intended to allow residents with symptoms or who have had potential recent exposure to test at home in order to make wise decisions about outings or other planned activities throughout the rest of the Christmas/New Year's holiday.

A maximum of two test kits will be allowed per household. Distribution procedures and timing will be communicated from Town Hall within the next day or two.

When considering whether or not to pick up a test kit, please follow the following guidance:

Yes - If you have minor symptoms of a cold, or have been in a group setting
that may have exposed you to COVID-19.

Yes - If you know that you have come in contact with someone who has
tested positive for COVID within the past week.

No - If you have been isolating and have only associated with your normal
cohort of people.

No - If you have tested positive for COVID in the last two weeks.

Testing is not intended to be a substitute for vaccination, masking, hand washing and other safeguards from infection.

This initiative also will include the distribution of N95 masks in the next week or two. Details of the distribution of the N95 masks are still being finalized and are subject to change this week.

In addition to those designated for the general public, the state has purchased another one million iHealth kits that will be distributed to K-12 schools statewide. Distribution of those kits will begin in January and continue through the school year as supplies last. More details on the distribution of tests for schools will be announced in early January.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has granted emergency use authorization for this iHealthCOVID-19 antigen rapid test, which is completed with an anterior nasal swab and is not the deep nasal test. The complete instructions for the at-home rapid test are available on the iHealth packaging in English and Spanish. Results are usually available in 15 minutes. More information on the iHealth antigen home test kits is available at ihealthlabs.com.

The Connecticut Department of Public Health is in the process of adding 7 more community testing sites to its current roster of 23 state-sponsored sites. Information on the approximately 400 COVID-19 testing sites currently operating in Connecticut is available by calling 2-1-1 or visiting 211CT.org.

State residents who have not been vaccinated yet can do so by visiting ct.gov/covidvaccine. All vaccinated people 16 and older are eligible for a booster, so please consider getting one as soon as possible.

Thank you for working together to keep our residents safe and our community healthy!

Be well,

Lauren"