NORTH SMITHFIELD – The town of North Smithfield has at-home rapid COVID -19 test kits available and plans to distribute them to residents Saturday morning at the former Halliwell Elementary School.
The tests will be handed out free of charge on a first-come, first-serve basis exclusively to North Smithfield residents with proof of residency such as a driver’s license and utility bill.
Pickup will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan.22 and will run through noon or until supplies run out at the property at 358 Victory Highway.
The free at home kits come in sets of two with a limit of two packages – or four tests – per household.
“Please note that the supply is very limited,” notes a release from Town Administrator Paul Zwolenski’s office on the distribution.
The tests were divvied up according to population size and handed out Thursday to communities across Rhode Island, following Gov. Dan McKee’s announcement that the state had 400,000 available.
The administrator noted that there are other options for obtaining rapid COVID-19 test kits:
• The Federal Government is offering four free test kits per household, to be shipped for free, beginning later this month by visiting www.covidtests.gov.
• Local pharmacies and the larger stores may have testing kits available for purchase or free through insurance.
• PCR and rapid testing appointments are available at many locations throughout the state. Appointments can be booked at covid.ri.gov/testing.
Town officials ask that residents do not call the fire department, police department or the Town Hall seeking information, as the calls will tie up important telephone lines.
