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Free At-Home Rapid Tests Delayed, COVID Positivity Rate Soars to 18 Percent In CT

December 29, 2021

With COVID-19 positivity rates spiking at approximately 18 percent, the much- anticipated free at-home rapid tests are delayed and will likely not arrive as planned, according to a statement from Gov. Ned Lamont.

“My staff and multiple state agencies have spent the past several days working around-the-clock to accelerate the movement of our tests through what is clearly a shipping and distribution bottleneck on the West Coast amid unprecedented international demand for tests,” Lamont said in a statement today, Dec. 29.

With the demand for testing soaring, Lamont, on Dec. 27, announced distribution was scheduled to begin on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021. That schedule is now in doubt.

Dr. Ulysses Wu, Hartford HealthCare’s System Director of Infectious Disease and Chief Epidemiologist, said the at-home rapid tests will be helpful as long as people don’t totally rely on them and they continue to be vigilant with vaccination, masking and social distancing.

“People shouldn’t rely on a negative test if there is a high suspicion that they have COVID,” said Dr. Wu, noting that the virus takes time to incubate.

Vaccination continues to be the best way to fight COVID.

Information on the approximately 400 COVID-19 testing sites currently operating in Connecticut and how to get vaccines is available by calling 2-1-1 or visiting 211CT.org.

For the latest on COVID-19 tests and vaccines from Hartford HealthCare, visit www.hartfordhealthcare.org/covid