Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests Come To Prince William Libraries

Liam Griffin
Updated ·2 min read

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VA — Free at-home COVID-19 tests are coming to libraries across Prince William County on Monday, Jan. 31. If supplies last, some branches will also distribute tests on Tuesday, Feb. 1 and Wednesday, Feb. 2.

The tests will be available at all library branches except for Bull Run from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 31. All branches except for the Dale City library will also distribute tests from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday, if supplies last.

Central, Chinn Park, Haymarket Gainesville, Manassas City, Montclair, and Potomac libraries will also distribute kits from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

The at-home test distribution is the latest effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the region. Currently, all Virginia localities are experiencing high levels of community transmission, according to the Virginia Department of Health.

“Testing is a critical piece in helping our community stay healthy and managing daily life during the pandemic, " Prince William County Board of Supervisors Chair-At-Large, Ann Wheeler said."We are so glad that we can offer these free kits to our residents. It is important that we do everything we can to support and help each other during this time."

Depending on the availability of supplies, the county said they may announce more distribution times. Updates about at-home test distribution will be posted on the county's website.

Before leaving home, residents are encouraged to call their local library to see if tests are still available. Some sites will provide curbside pickup, while others will require residents to enter the library. Anyone who has to go inside a library is encouraged to wear a mask.

“Our vision at Prince William Public Libraries is to be the hub connecting people to the transforming power of information,” the library system's director, Deborah Wright, said. “Sometimes information takes the form of literacy, sometimes it’s learning through free classes and programs, and sometimes it’s through providing a public service like distributing free COVID-19 test kits."

Read more: Librarians To The Rescue: Scheduling Vaccines, Providing Tests

Library employees will not be able to administer tests inside libraries. Instead, residents are encouraged to take the test home and complete it on their own. Anyone with questions can reach out to the testing company's customer service line, which will be shown inside the test kit.

In a news release, Wright noted that unprecedented "We strive to be a community resource no matter what challenge is presented."

This article originally appeared on the Manassas Patch