400K More At-Home COVID-19 Tests Arrive In Rhode Island

PROVIDENCE, RI — Several hundred thousand more at-home rapid coronavirus tests arrived in Rhode Island Friday, bringing the total for the week to 500,000. The tests, which have been hard to come by due to high demand, will be distributed through municipalities and community organizations.

"Our team is pursuing every possible avenue to secure more at-home rapid tests for Rhode Islanders," Gov. Dan McKee said. "I have personally made calls to the management team of several vendors in the industry and our whole of government team is following up on pending orders every day. We are fully committed to ensuring that Rhode Island continues to test more per capita than any other state in the nation. We thank our municipal leaders and community partners for stepping up to get these tests into the hands of Rhode Islanders."

400,000 additional tests arrived in the state Friday. Of the 500,000 the state received throughout the week, 70 percent will be given to cities and towns, based on population size. The remainder will go to community organizations.

At-home, self-administered COVID-19 tests are encouraged in the following circumstances:

• Before gathering indoors with others, especially with anyone who is unvaccinated, immunocompromised, or at risk of severe illness.
• If you have symptoms of COVID-19 and can’t get to a test site. Stay home and away from others if you’re sick.
• If you may have been exposed to COVID-19 and can’t get to a testing site.
• Before and after domestic travel.
• Self-tests are an option if you plan to travel within the United States or U.S. territories and are not required to provide documentation of a negative test result.
• If you are not fully vaccinated and must travel, you should test yourself one to three days before your trip and three to five days after your trip. For more information, visit covid.ri.gov/travel.