750k+ COVID-19 rapid tests on their way to Monroe County distribution points

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — They’re free and on the way to distribution points. Wednesday morning Monroe County received 750,000 at-home rapid COVID-19 test kits for all municipalities and school districts.

News10NBC found out some local distribution plans, and how you can pick one up.

The good news is you can have one as early as this weekend depending on where you live, but you will definitely receive at least one kit before the Christmas Holiday.

The City of Rochester was one of the first in line to load up on its share of 750,000 at-home rapid COVID-19 test kits purchased by Monroe County. As the truck was being loaded at the Monroe County Fleet Center, County Executive Adam Bello said the virus is now largely transmitted at the workplace and large indoor gatherings. He was joined by other county and city leaders who want to give residents the tools to actively manage this pandemic.

"They are quick. They are easy, and in 15 minutes you can have the peace of mind knowing you won’t be spreading COVID at a gathering, or in the workplace," Bello said.

Rochester Mayor-Elect Malik Evans was on hand for the pick-up. Evans said the City will announce its distribution plans in the coming days.

"One of the things we have in Rochester is what I call great distribution. If you go into any neighborhood you got a Rec Center. You got a school. You got a church. So we will figure out the best distribution method, but our goal is to within the next couple of days have a plan that we will announce to the community on how we are gonna get all these tests out," Evans said.

Monroe County paid $7.5 million for these test kits using money from the county’s share of the Federal CARES Act. Henrietta Town Supervisor Steve Schultz shared his distribution plan.

"Henrietta for instance is gonna do a large drive-thru similar to what we were doing with the mask distribution, and with the Foodlink distribution. So ours will be Sunday 9:30 to 12:30," Schultz said.

The County has also allocated 250,000 test kits, strictly for school districts.

"I think you’ll see some school districts that backpack them home. I think you’ll see others that sort of have a single point of pick-up, and I think you’ll see other districts that do parent pick-up school by school," said Bo Wright, President of the Monroe County Council of Superintendents.

Directions on how to use these test kits are included, and tutorial videos are also available online.