Good Question: Will at-home COVID tests work to attend events?

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC)—You now have more options for buying COVID tests to do yourself. CVS, Walmart, and Walgreens are among those selling at-home test kits you can pick up at stores or buy online.

Michael asked News10NBC’s Brennan Somers: For the people who do not want to get vaccinated, but need to present a negative COVID test will the home test be allowed as proof? Will that qualify to get you into a baseball game, a wedding, or something else?

Monroe County Health Commissioner Dr. Mike Mendoza says he’s hopeful, but they aren’t there yet.

"In thinking through how this will work, however, regarding the rules around gatherings we have been in conversations with NYS," Dr.

Mendoza said. "We anticipate guidance from them on whether any of these at-home tests would be considered acceptable for entrance into a wedding or another large event."

Dr. Mendoza says what’s most important with these at-home tests is that whether you’re negative and especially if you’re positive you report all results to the health department.

That will help with contact tracing, and to make sure the true positivity rate in the community is accurate.

They’ve worked with these tests before just in a more formal setting. That’s something they’ll also have to address.

"Some of the home test kits are the same made available to the schools and in use right now at the community testing site so we know the technology is good," Dr. Mendoza added. "We also know there’s some level of user factor here making sure people know how to administer the test appropriately."

You should know the over-the-counter tests can cost anywhere from $24-40. This could end up being a real option for parents and grandparents who want to take their kids somewhere this summer.

Somers had a family ask about going to a Red Wings game.

As it stands now, kids at least two years old and teens not old enough to get the vaccine will all have to have a negative test to enter Frontier Field.

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