Massachusetts Set To Distribute 2 Million At-Home COVID-19 Tests

Massachusetts Republican Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito announced on Monday that the state will deliver 2.1 million at-home rapid COVID-19 tests to deliver to families across the state.

Baker and Polito shared the information, along with Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders, during a COVID-19 testing announcement on Monday that was live-streamed:

“Today, our administration announced that beginning this week, 2.1 million free rapid, at-home #COVID19MA test kits will be delivered by @MassEMA and @TheNationsFirst to more than 100 high-need Massachusetts communities,” Baker tweeted.

Today, our administration announced that beginning this week, 2.1 million free rapid, at-home #COVID19MA test kits will be delivered by @MassEMA and @TheNationsFirst to more than 100 high-need Massachusetts communities.

Learn more ➡️ https://t.co/fDG0sEp05m pic.twitter.com/zkBHTFpKQ4

— Charlie Baker (@MassGovernor) December 13, 2021

“With the holidays approaching, we encourage residents to utilize rapid tests as a convenient way to keep family members and friends safe at gatherings,” Baker also shared in a statement from the governor’s office website.

“While these tests are widely available at many pharmacies and retail locations across the Commonwealth, we are making it even easier for residents to get free rapid testing through these initiatives,” he added.

Polito also commented on the state’s “nation-leading” move.

“Massachusetts has developed a nation-leading testing infrastructure, with free testing available across the Commonwealth,” Polito said.

“Increasing access to these free OTC rapid antigen test kits will serve as another tool to combat COVID-19,” she added.

The statement explained that “the initial 2.1 million OTC rapid antigen tests will be distributed to 102 high-need communities across the Commonwealth.” The state also plans to allow communities to directly purchase tests at negotiated prices.

According to the statement:

The Commonwealth is paying $5 per test. All tests come in packs of two. The tests can be completed in 15 minutes without the need to send a sample to a laboratory; a mobile phone or computer is not needed for any part of the test. Individuals 2 years of age and up can use the tests regardless of vaccination status or whether or not they have symptoms.

The state has sought to increase testing after a September controversy with the state’s police union. Dozens of state troopers reportedly resigned over the state’s vaccine mandate for state employees. The Daily Wire previously reported:

The State Police Association of Massachusetts (SPAM) filed a lawsuit to delay Republican Governor Charlie Baker’s vaccine mandate earlier this month, arguing that the October 17 deadline would cause “irreparable harm” to officers. The union asked for more time to “negotiate the terms and conditions of their employment.”

However, a judge in the Massachusetts Superior Court turned down the union’s request on Thursday.

“Specifically, the public interest is, unquestionably, best served by stopping the spread of the virus, in order to protect people from becoming ill, ensure adequate supply of medical services, and curtail the emergence of new, deadlier variants of the virus,” Judge Jackie Cowin said in her decision.

The union’s president, Michael Cherven, responded to the decision on Friday with a statement saying it was “unfortunate that the Governor and his team have chosen to mandate one of the most stringent vaccine mandates in the country with no reasonable alternatives.”

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