City of Davis Offering Free At-home Test Kits for COVID-19
In an effort to ensure that residents most in need continue to have timely and convenient access to testing, the City of Davis announced today that 2,000 free at-home, COVID-19 rapid test kits will be given out starting July 13, at the Mary L. Stephens Davis Branch Library (315 E. 14th Street) during open business hours. Each FloFlex test box contains one at-home test. Community members are asked to take only what they need to ensure that tests are available for everyone in the community who needs them.

The City received a total of 8,000 free test kits from Healthy Davis Together as part of the wind-down of the program. To ensure the most vulnerable populations in the community had access to testing, test kits were first offered to local nonprofits and organizations like the Davis Migrant Center, Davis Community Meals and Housing, Yolo Crisis Nursery, YoloCares and affordable housing sites, among others.

In another effort to provide ongoing testing access, the City of Davis Parks and Community Services department is offering free InteliSwab COVID-19 rapid test kits to those enrolled in the City’s summer camps. Parents or guardians of enrolled youth can request up to two free boxes of tests from the Parks and Community Services office at City Hall (23 Russell Blvd). There are two tests in each box.

“Getting tested remains an important tool in helping to reduce the spread of COVID-19,” said Mayor Lucas Frerichs. “We are grateful to be able to provide test kits to our residents, including young people and those most vulnerable, so that we can continue to keep families and communities safe and healthy as we continue our return to greater normalcy after enduring this pandemic.”

When performed correctly, home antigen tests are reasonable substitutes for PCR tests. Residents should get tested if they have been exposed to COVID-19 or have symptoms. If someone has COVID-19 symptoms and tests negative for COVID-19 with an antigen test, it is recommended to stay home and test again one to two days later.

Residents can also get tested at health care providers, by purchasing test kits at local pharmacies, picking up free test kits at Yolo County Libraries (while supplies last) or ordering up to three rounds of free, at-home COVID-19 tests through the US Postal Service at: www.COVID.gov/tests. Insurance companies, including Medicare and Medi-Cal, will also cover members for up to eight tests each month, either through a reimbursement claim or by direct billing depending on the plan. In addition, Yolo County is launching an upcoming pilot program of five, free test kit vending machines at always-open outdoor locations in Davis, West Sacramento, Woodland, Esparto and Winters. The Mary L. Stephens Davis Branch Library number is: 530-666-8005. For the City’s COVID-19 page, visit: https://cityofdavis.org/coronavirus. 

Press contact: Barbara Archer, [email protected], 530-400-3418