Looking for an at-home rapid COVID-19 test? Free test kits are being given out in Monroe County this week.
Monroe County has given 500,000 rapid test kits to towns, villages and the City of Rochester to distribute. Most are starting to hand them out on Saturday, Dec. 11. Each kit contains two tests. Officials will give another 250,000 tests to students for use in their homes. The tests were purchased using $7.5 million in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act funds.
To receive a test kit, bring proof of residency, such as a government ID or utility bill, to the distribution site in the town, village or city where you live. Towns will distribute their limited supply of test kits on a first-come first-served basis.
“For those who are planning to gather over the coming weeks, consider using these tests before doing so,” said Monroe County Executive Adam Bello said at a press conference Dec. 7. “They are quick, 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.”
Directions are included with each kit, and tutorial videos are available online. An online fact sheet on test kit use is here.
If you get a positive result, the Department of Public Health requests that you immediately begin isolation, contact your doctor and report the result to the health department via monroecounty.gov or by calling (585) 753-5555. Negative test results do not need to be reported.
To protect your circle, get a COVID-19 vaccination if you haven’t already, get a booster shot if needed, wear a mask or face covering when visiting indoor public spaces, wash your hands and stay home if you are sick.
For details on COVID testing sites in the community, visit www.flvaccinehub.org/testing. You may have questions about getting the COVID-19 vaccine and booster shots. Get answers at www.GetYourAnswers. org.
Test kit distribution locations and times:
Rochester: 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, at the Adams Street R-Center, 85 Adams St., and at the Thomas P. Ryan R-Center, 530 Webster Ave; from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 18 at the Trenton and Pamela Jackson R-Center, 485 North Clinton Ave., and from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 19, at the Edgerton R-Center, 41 Backus Street.
Brighton: Drive, walk or bike thru 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, and 10 a.m. to noon Sunday, Dec. 12 at Temple B’rith Kodesh, 2131 Elmwood Ave. Proof of residency required.
Chili: Noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, in the lobby of the new Community Center, 3237 Chili Ave. Proof of residency required. One kit per adult who is physically present.
Clarkson: 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, at the Stanley Pogroszewski Courthouse, 3655 Lake Road. Proof of residency required. One kit per address. Please social distance and dress for weather.
East Rochester: Drive thru from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 18, at the Eyer Building, 317 Main Street, East Rochester. One kit per household.
Gates: Drive thru from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 15, at the Town Hall Parking lot, 1605 Buffalo Road. One kit per adult. Any remaining kits will be available for pickup at the Gates Town Clerk’s office or Gates Public Library until run out.
Greece: Noon to 4 p.m. Monday, Dec. 13, and Tuesday, Dec. 14, at the Greece Town Hall Meeting Room entrance, or until supplies are exhausted. One kit per household. Proof of residency required.
Hamlin: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 18, at the Hamlin Town Hall Parking Lot, 1658 Lake Road, Hamlin. One kit per household. Proof of residency required.
Henrietta: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12, at Veterans Memorial Park, 595 Calkins Road, Henrietta. One box with two tests per household.
Irondequoit: Drive Thru from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 11, at Irondequoit Public Works, 2629 East Ridge Road, while supplies last. One kit per vehicle.
Mendon (includes Village of Honeoye Falls): 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 11, at St. Catherine of Siena Church, 26 Mendon Ionia Road, Mendon, and Mendon Community Center, 167 North Main St., Honeoye Falls. One kit per household. Proof of residency required.
Ogden (includes Village of Spencerport): 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, at Ogden Highway Garage, 2432 South Union Street, just south of town office complex. One kit per family. Proof of residency required.
Parma (includes Village of Hilton): Available starting Monday, Dec. 13, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday at Parma Town Hall, Town Clerk’s office, 1300 Hilton Parma Corners Road, and Village Community Center Recreation Office, 59 Henry Street, Hilton. Kits are available to Parma and Hilton residents only; proof of residency required. One kit per each adult resident physically present.
Penfield: Drive thru from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 11, at Penfield Town Hall, 3100 Atlantic Avenue, while supplies last. One kit per vehicle.
Perinton (includes Village of Fairport): Drive thru from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 11, at Perinton Public Works, 100 Cobb’s Lane. One kit per household.
Pittsford: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 18, at Mendon High School bus loop, 472 Mendon Road. One kit per household. Proof of residency required.
Riga (includes Village of Churchville): Drive-thru from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 11., at the Churchville Volunteer Fire Department, 24 Washington St., Churchville. Proof of residency required.
Rush: Drive thru from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 11, at Rush Town Hall, 5977 East Henrietta Road South parking lot. Proof of residency required.
Sweden (includes Village of Brockport): Drive thru from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, at Sweden Town Hall, 18 State Street rear parking lot, and at Sweden Clarkson Community Center Parking Lot, 4927 Lake Road South. Proof of residency required. One kit per adult.
Wheatland (includes Village of Scottsville): 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, at the Mumford Fire Department, 1013 Main Street, Mumford in the Community Room, and at Wheatland Town Hall, 22 Main Street, Scottsville, at the Town and Village windows. Proof of residency required. Masks will also be available for pickup. One kit per resident physically present.
