The state has over 2 million at-home COVID-19 rapid antigen tests available, and it announced on June 13 that it would be giving them away free to every city and town in Massachusetts on request. The Harvard Board of Health will be receiving 2,340 tests. It is planning to distribute them at a drive-thru event at Bromfield on Saturday, July 9, from 9 a.m. until noon or until the tests are gone.
Last winter, the state purchased millions of iHealth at-home COVID-19 tests to give to schools and towns with the most vulnerable populations. The tests were also available for towns to purchase, but according to Board of Health Chair Libby Levison, Harvard’s town administration opted not to purchase any.
Last week Levison told the Press that the Food and Drug Administration had authorized a three-month shelf-life extension for all iHealth COVID-19 tests with expiration dates on or before Sept. 29, 2022. The state recently notified towns that every free test they will receive has an expiration date that has been extended three months from what is printed on the box. Local boards of health will receive new expiration date stickers to place on each box prior to distribution.
Levison said some of the tests will be given to the Council on Aging, and COA Director Debbie Thompson told the Press any senior can contact the COA and arrange pickup there instead of attending the drive-thru event.
Levison said the event is open to all Harvard and Devens residents, and drivers should enter Bromfield from Pond Road and proceed to the area by the cafeteria. There are two tests in each box, and the Board of Health has not yet determined how many boxes each car will receive. If bad weather is forecast (torrential rain or lightning), the event will be held Sunday, July 10.
