COVID-19 Test Kit Distribution Postponed In Hamden: UPDATE

HAMDEN, CT — The COVID-19 test kit distribution that was scheduled to take place in Hamden on Thursday has been delayed, officials announced.

Gov. Ned Lamont’s office has notified municipalities that the state’s supply of COVID-19 test kits has been delayed due to shipping and warehouse-related issues.

“We will post a new distribution schedule as soon as possible,” Mayor Lauren Garrett said in an update.

(Original Post) HAMDEN, CT — Hamden will receive 15,300 COVID-19 at-home rapid tests and begin distributing them to residents on Thursday, Dec. 30, officials announced Wednesday.

Tests will be limited to one kit per household, according to officials. Each kit contains two tests.

Officials are advising residents to be prepared to provide identification, and said a state ID or utility bill is sufficient. Residents are also asked to wear a mask.

“Tests are best utilized when a person is symptomatic,” officials wrote in a news release. “An asymptomatic person may not have enough viral load for the test to register.”

Tests will be available to Hamden residents at the following locations:

Keefe Community Center

• Thursday, Dec. 30; from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. or until supplies last
• Enter through the parking lot at 19 George St.

Hamden Plains United Methodist Church

• Friday, Dec. 31; from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. or until supplies last
• Come to the door in back parking lot at 15 Church St.

Mt. Calvary Revival Center

• Thursday, Dec. 30; from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. or until supplies last
• Friday, Dec. 31; from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. or until supplies last
• 450 West Todd St.

The Spring Glen Church, UCC

• Thursday, Dec. 30; from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. or until supplies last
• 1825 Whitney Ave.

Officials said tests will available at Davenport-Dunbar to its residents, but "these tests are best utilized when a person is symptomatic. An asymptomatic person may not have enough viral load for the test to register. With that said, a limited supply will be delivered to Davenport-Dunbar residents, and it is our suggestion that symptomatic people are tested. The State has allocated a limited supply to Hamden, and we do not have enough tests for every resident."

“While the government has issued 1 million tests to municipalities, they will be providing another 2 million tests to schools, and we anticipate Hamden will receive another large shipment next week that will be distributed by the school system,” the news release states. “Information regarding the distribution of masks to municipalities has not been released yet. Once we have that information, we plan to distribute these masks in a similar fashion.”