Monroe County to receive thousands of at-home COVID-19 test kits

Rochester, New York — More than a half-million of at-home COVID-19 testing kits have been delivered to Monroe County are being prepped for distribution.

The tests were ordered as part of the county’s state of emergency declaration.

According to County Executive Adam Bello, he’ll announce more details on how the home testing kits will be distributed on Wednesday.

“We are going to be partnering with municipalities, the towns, the city of Rochester, and the school districts on that distribution because every town is different, has different needs,” said Bello. “The city of Rochester has different ways to reach people as well. And I am delighted that that was the response. An undertaking like this is very difficult for the county to manage on its own.”

Each kit comes with two tests. A total of 500,000 tests will go to adults across the county and another 250,000 will be given to school districts to be given to children.

The towns of Chili and Irondequoit have both announced tests will be given to residents on Saturday.

Chili says it will distribute one test to every adult who shows up at the lobby of the new community center off of Chili Avenue from noon to 3 p.m. Irondequoit will hand out one kit per vehicle from 9 a.m. to noon, or as long as supplies last, at the Department of Public Works off of Ridge Road.

Proof of residency is required in both towns, such as a driver’s license or a utility bill.

The town of Chili has received 7,100 rapid tests and Irondequoit has received 1,200.

According to Bello, the number of tests for each town is based on how many a town thinks they need and can get out to people.