Tolland To Hand Out COVID-19 Test At-Home Rapid Kits Sunday

Information via the town of Tolland:

COVID-19 AT-HOME TEST KITS RECEIVED – UPDATED DISTRIBUTION PLAN

As Interim Town Manager I am pleased to announce that Tolland Emergency Management has secured an allotment of COVID-19 Self-Test At-Home rapid test kits from the State of Connecticut.

Unfortunately our allotment, as were other municipalities’ allotments, was less than expected due to the delays the State is experiencing. Rest assured State Officials and Town Officials are working around-the-clock to overcome the setback and will disperse supplies as quickly as possible.

The State has asked municipalities to prioritize a limited quantity of supplies for symptomatic or high-risk individuals and frontline workers, including first responders, childcare workers, and school staff. Therefore we encourage Tolland residents who have been exposed to COVID, have attended a large gathering, plan to travel, or are experiencing cold like symptoms, to pick up a self-test. We request anyone not in immediate need to refrain from picking up test kits at this time.

Tolland Emergency Management’s plan for distribution to Tolland residents is as follows:
Guidelines:

• Proof of Residency is required (such as a driver’s license or other government issued photo identification)
• A maximum of two kits per household will be distributed
• You do not need to report your result to public health authorities, but you should tell your close contacts (people you have spent time with lately) that you have COVID-19, so that they can get tested and protect others. In addition, if a child who attends daycare or school tests positive, you should inform the institution.

Distribution:

• Sunday, January 2nd, 2022 beginning at 9 A.M. to 12 P.M. or until supplies are depleted
• Location: Tolland High School, 1 Eagle Hill
• Please wear a mask while interacting with staff
• Please place your photo ID on the dashboard where it will be visible, without having to be touched

Upon arrival at the High School residents are asked to follow the signs/cones of the traffic pattern and have their photo identification ready. Tolland Emergency Management along with Tolland Resident Troopers will oversee the distribution site supported by Tolland Fire Department’s Fire Police Unit and Tolland’s CERT Team who will be staffing this site. Please drive slowly through the site and obey the directions of staff.

Be advised that Tolland, along with all the Towns of Connecticut were only supplied with a limited number of kits, not enough for all the residents. Each test kit contains 2 test cards and is meant for one person. If your first test is negative, you will use the second test 24-48 hours later, per manufacturer’s instructions. The kits will be distributed on a first come, first serve basis.
Additional Information from the State of Connecticut:

“Residents who have not been vaccinated should get their COVID-19 vaccine now and can do so by visiting ct.gov/covidvaccine,” Commissioner Juthani said. “For all vaccinated people 16 and older that are eligible for a booster, please get one as soon as possible. For all school-age children 5 and older that are not vaccinated yet, please use this school break to get vaccinated. Vaccination saves lives and keeps people who get COVID out of the hospital.”

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. Local residents can also check the Eastern Highlands Health District website for testing and vaccine locations at http://www.ehhd.org/