Oxford Postpones Coronavirus Test Kit Distribution Event

OXFORD, CT — Oxford's plan to distribute free coronavirus test kits to residents Thursday has been postponed, due to kits not yet arriving in the state, according to officials.

"Unfortunately, our plans have become derailed because the Government could not ship them from California in time," First Selectman George Temple wrote on Facebook Thursday (see below). "Therefore, today’s plan to distribute at Oxford High School at 2:00 p.m. has been canceled. When we physically receive the test kits, we will notify you when and how they will be distributed."

Wednesday afternoon, Gov. Ned Lamont discussed the shipment delay.

"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. "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."

Oxford was going to distribute the free kits on a first come, first served basis while supplies lasted.