Naugatuck, State Awaiting Free Home Coronavirus Test Kits: Update

NAUGATUCK, CT — The first batch of 4,000 free home coronavirus test kits, as part of the state's distribution plan, was slated to arrive in Naugatuck on Thursday but was delayed, according to officials.

Naugatuck is slated to receive more free test kits in the coming weeks, in addition to receiving a shipment of N95 masks.

Connecticut will distribute 3 million test kits and 6 million masks statewide, according to Gov. Ned Lamont. Thursday's expected shipment was delayed from California.

"Due to shipping and warehouse delays outside of the State of Connecticut's control, our state's anticipated shipment of COVID-19 at-home rapid tests are currently delayed from arriving in Connecticut," Lamont said in a statement Wednesday evening. "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."

Naugatuck will announce a new date for the distribution once the kits have arrived.