Residents to get free COVID-19 rapid test kits to help prevent holiday spike

Stephanie Hill, Aiken Standard, S.C.
·1 min read

Dec. 21—The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control is encouraging people to get free COVID-19 rapid antigen tests during the holiday season.

The White House announced it was restarting its partnership with the postal service to provide at-home tests for people throughout the United States. Four free at-home tests can be ordered online at covid.gov/tests to be delivered by mail.

"For the last two years, we've seen COVID-19 cases spike during the winter months, along with hospitalizations and deaths," said Samatha Montgomery, deputy director of operations for the DHEC's COVID-19 Coordination Office. "We appreciate the federal government's initiative and encourage South Carolinians to take advantage of it, as well as the resources available to them across the state."

COVID-19 vaccines are available for ages 6 months and older. People are encouraged to get the vaccine and the boosters.

South Carolina residents can pick-up free COVID-19 tests at their local public health departments. In Aiken County, the health department is located at 222 Beaufort St. N.E. For more information, call 803-642-1687.