HAMPTON ROADS — The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) announced that it will be partnering up with 18 libraries and library systems across Virginia to help distribute COVID-19 at-home test kits.
The newly announced program begins Friday, Dec. 31, 2021. There will be no cost for these tests kits and the VDH says that additional libraries from across the commonwealth may opt into the program at a later date.
The COVID-19 test kit that was chosen for the project is the Abbott BinaxNow COVID-19 Antigen Card Home Test. Virginians can pick up the test from any of the participating libraries and use it at home to receive digital results in 15 minutes.
The VDH designed this program to help increase access to COVID-19 testing among rural, remote, under-resourced communities, and other vulnerable populations.
The BinaxNow test uses a digital platform called eMed. Individuals who plan on using the take-home test are required to have a mobile device or computer to create an online account so that they can join a virtual testing session with an eMed assistant who guides the individual through the testing process. After the test is complete, the user will recieve their results within 15 minutes. Additionally, eMed will report these results to the VDH.
The VDH says that Individuals may request a free test kit from their local library by following the library’s guidelines. The VDH also recommends that if an individual is feeling ill, they should call their library about a contactless pick-up option or send someone to pick up the test for that individual.
Residents in the Historic Triangle can pick up test kits from either Williamsburg Regional Library or Poquoson Public Library.
For those seeking more information, they can visit the library program webpage or email their questions directly to the VDH at: testinginfo@vdh.virginia.gov.
