Who is a member?
Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
The Baker-Polito administration yesterday announced plans to distribute 3.5 million free at-home COVID-19 rapid antigen tests to municipalities to make available to residents across the Commonwealth.
Municipalities can also request PPE, including KN95, surgical and children’s masks.
Test distribution amounts will be determined solely by population size. There are no restrictions or requirements for the use of the tests.
The Executive Office of Health and Human Services sent emails yesterday to local boards of health including allocation details and a short survey to be returned by Sept. 16. Some items of PPE are first-come, first-served. Deliveries will begin on a rolling basis next week, according to Health and Human Services.
Every test shipped to municipalities as part of this effort has an expiration date that has been extended six months from what is printed on the box, until at least January 2023, according to Health and Human Services. Further extensions are possible and will be posted at ihealthlabs.com/pages/news.
This distribution of free tests builds upon statewide contracts in place since December 2021 that allow municipalities and eligible entities to order test kits directly from manufacturers at state-negotiated prices.
Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito said the distribution of rapid tests “is part of our ongoing work to provide local officials with the tools and resources they need to protect their residents and communities.”
An additional 1.5 million rapid antigen tests will also be made available to food banks in the Commonwealth, to reach those who are most vulnerable. More than 1.5 million tests have already been distributed to food banks and local organizations that support access to food across Massachusetts this year.
Since December 2021, the administration has distributed more than 25 million rapid antigen tests for Massachusetts residents, municipalities, and a broad range of educational, health, human services, food banks, shelter, correctional, senior, low-income housing, and other community-based organizations.
Massachusetts is a national leader in vaccination rates, with more than 84% of eligible residents fully vaccinated and over half of adults boosted, according to state officials.