Poughkeepsie … Dutchess County Executive Molinaro today announced the County have another drive thru event to provide residents with free at-home COVID-19 test kits, as well as KN95 masks, this Sunday, Feb. 6th from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds, located at 6626 Route 9 in Rhinebeck.
There will be a limit of two test kits per vehicle. Each test kit includes two individual tests and are available for Dutchess County residents only on a first-come, first-served basis.
County Executive Molinaro said, “We were thrilled with the terrific turnouts at our previous mass-distribution sites, knowing we are getting these critical test kits into the hands of residents who want them. We look forward to continued success this Sunday, handing out thousands more kits to residents who seek them. We thank both the dedicated Dutchess County staff and volunteers for their coordinated efforts, and we’re grateful to our partners at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds for hosting this important event on Sunday.”
Residents are encouraged to check the County’s website, dutchessny.gov, or Facebook page prior to arrival for updates regarding weather and supplies. Updates will be posted on the County’s Facebook page when supplies run out.
In recent weeks, at-home COVID-19 test kits have become much more readily available. In addition to Sunday’s event, test kits are also available:
• during normal hours of operation for its COVID-19 testing site and its vaccination site at the former JCPenney location at the Poughkeepsie Galleria, 2001 South Road in Poughkeepsie as well as in Dover at the former CVS store location at 3081 Route 22, Dover Plains.
• through local towns, villages and cities, which have received allocations from Dutchess County; residents can contact their municipality for specific information about their respective distributions;
• from the federal government through covidtests.gov; orders are expected to ship through the U.S. Postal Service 7-12 days after they’re received; and
• at retail pharmacies, purchases are covered by or will be reimbursed through health insurance.
An informational flyer, outlining how residents are to report a positive result from an at-home test, will accompany each test kit that Dutchess County distributes. Residents who receive a positive result from any at-home COVID-19 test must:
• Immediately self-isolate, even if they are vaccinated; adhere to current quarantine guidance; and
• Take a picture of the positive at-home test result within 24 hours and report the positive case to the Dutchess County Department of Behavioral and Community Health at
dutchessny.gov/COVIDpositive
Earlier this week, Dutchess County distributed test kits supplied from New York State to local municipalities, based on population – as it has since December – and the Couty has similarly distributed thousands more to school districts and organizations that serve underserved populations.
Residents can find comprehensive information about COVID-19, including testing, vaccinations, prevention and more, at DutchessNY.gov/Coronavirus or by calling the COVID information line at 845-486-3555.
