New Bedford to Give Out More Free COVID Test Kits

NEW BEDFORD — New Bedford residents will be able to get a second round of free, at-home COVID test kits this week, the city has announced.

City health and emergency management officials are working with community organizations to distribute the kits, according to a statement from the mayor's office.

The latest round of free COVID-19 test kits comes after the city handed out nearly 38,000 kits with two tests each in December 2021.

This time city officials plan to distribute up to 20,000 of the kits, the mayor's office noted in the statement.

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Each kit contains one “Floflex” antigen test.

Certain populations of city residents — those that have the lowest vaccination rates and are therefore most at risk for illness, as well as those who have seen disproportionately high case rates — will be prioritized.

These include families with young children, unvaccinated people, those living in congregate housing settings, and people who identify as Hispanic, multi-racial, or as another minority racial/ethnic group.

Only New Bedford residents can receive test kits. Each person may request up to five kits, but supplies are limited and may affect availability.

Public libraries will be hosting a limited number of "pop-up" distribution events this week:

Downtown / Main Library (613 Pleasant St.) from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday

Wilks Branch Library (1911 Acushnet Ave.) and Howland-Green Branch (3 Rodney French Blvd.) from 12 to 8 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday; and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday.