United Way, Monroe County team up to hand out 50k+ COVID tests to local nonprofits

Andrew Hyman

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ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — More than 100 local nonprofits just took in roughly 54,000 COVID-19 test kits Friday morning.

The United Way of Greater Rochester teamed up with Monroe County to give out the free test kits, with a goal of the test being used by employees, and their clients in the community. Agencies could drive up and pick up the kits.

County Executive Adam Bello used the opportunity to remind people the best way to stay healthy and to take care of others: get vaccinated.

"I know we’re fatigued with this, but at the end of the day even if you’re not worried about the virus for yourself, you say I’m young I’m healthy, if I get sick I’ll over it," Bello said. "But there are a lot of people in our community who are not going to be fine, and we saw that because of how many people died. Those folks are in the hospital right now."

Friday’s distribution was just one of several as part of the roughly 750,000 free kits the county acquired. Several towns and villages across the area are still giving out the tests, a full list of times and places can be found here.