The County has identified groups that have an increased risk of exposure to COVID-19 or decreased access to available test sites because of their occupation. Included in those groups are residents who are food service workers and construction workers; live in areas with lower vaccination rates; have limited access to other testing resources due to access to health care, transportation or work hours; and those with decreased access to other testing resources due to a physical or developmental disability.
Montgomery County received approximately 10,000 test kits from the State in late November. It has been distributing them at County-operated testing sites, but this week, it started distributing the kits to members of the identified specific groups.
“As we have done throughout the pandemic, we are working hard to make sure the test kits are available to residents who live in communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 illness and deaths, as well as workers who regularly interact with large numbers of people in the community, some who are not vaccinated,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “Going into the upcoming holidays, quite frankly, our path forward is going to be determined by how well we can vaccinate against, test for, contain and mitigate this virus. By procuring and distributing more rapid tests throughout the community to those who need them most, we will help keep everyone safer.”
The at-home test kits may not be accepted by those who require:
- Routine employment testing
- Pre-travel testing
- School quarantine/isolation
