'Potentially a game-changer': Free COVID at-home test kits available in four Cape towns

Four Cape towns — Barnstable, Dennis, Eastham and Orleans — are among the 102 Massachusetts communities receiving free COVID-19 rapid testing kits as part of the Baker-Polito administration’s attempts to stop the spread of coronavirus this holiday season.

Gov. Charlie Baker said Monday that 2.1 million test kits will be distributed starting Tuesday to the selected municipalities, which were chosen because they have the highest number of families living in poverty.

“Like vaccines, these rapid at-home tests are potentially a game-changer as we continue to battle COVID here in the commonwealth,” Baker said during a press conference.

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He said state officials selected communities with the highest estimated percentage of families living below the poverty level for the free test kits because the price of the kits has prevented low-income people from being able to purchase them.

“They’re not cheap,” Baker said. “The big problems in many cases for many people have been cost and supply, which have been major barriers.”

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At-home antigen tests purchased at pharmacies or online range from $10 to $30. An antigen test can detect the presence of proteins from the COVID-19 virus.

Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito said she and Marylou Sudders, state secretary of health and human services, told local municipal officials Monday morning that it was up to them to decide how to distribute the test kits.

“They know their communities best,” Polito said.

State officials are working with test-kit manufacturers to obtain at-home tests at bulk prices and pass the savings along to Massachusetts cities and towns.

“This is just the beginning,” Polito said. “As the governor mentioned, we’re in the process of finalizing a statewide initiative whereby cities and towns will be able to procure test kits at much lower, state-negotiated prices.”

“This will allow them to sustain their efforts to get these test kits in the hands of the residents, especially those who might not be able to afford them,” Polito said.

Municipalities can use American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and other federal pandemic funds to purchase the at-home kits.

Members of the Massachusetts National Guard and the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency will start distributing the free test kits on Tuesday and continue for the next four to five days, Baker said.

With Christmas and New Year’s Eve approaching, Baker advised people to use the kits before gathering with people outside their household.

Sudders said the iHealth rapid result antigen tests being distributed by the state rank in the upper 90% in terms of accuracy and can be used by people age 2 and up.

People who test positive on the rapid, at-home test kits should isolate for 10 days and notify close contacts they may have been exposed to, she said.

Residents can also choose to use a digital exposure notification tool called MassNotify that lets people alert others who may have been exposed to COVID-19, Sudders said.

Baker asked all Massachusetts residents age 16 and up to consider getting a booster shot.

“It’s the most selfless gift you can give to protect yourself, your family and your community,” Sudders said.

Contact Cynthia McCormick at cmccormick@capecodonline.com. Follow her on Twitter: Cmccormickcct.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: At-home COVID test kits coming to Barnstable, Dennis, Eastham Orleans