How Worcester Residents Can Get Free At-Home Coronavirus Tests

WORCESTER, MA — Worcester will begin distributing an allotment of over 67,000 at-home coronavirus test kits on Friday. The state is providing the tests to residents in cities and towns across the state with high numbers of low-income residents.

Each kit comes with two iHealth Labs tests, so about 135,000 of Worcester's 205,000 residents will have access to one. The tests take about 15 minutes to complete, and health officials say the tests will help residents stay safe during holiday gatherings as the delta and omicron variants continue to push case numbers up.

Worcester will distribute the kits to about 21 "community organizations, social service agencies, faith-based and other special interest groups," a city spokesperson said. Those organizations include Friendly House, the Quinsigamond Community College food pantry, and the Boys & Girls Club of Worcester. See a full list here.

Kits will also be available to anyone who gets a COVID-19 vaccine on Saturday at a clinic at the main Worcester Public Library, 3 Salem Square. That clinic will run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Gov. Charlie Baker announced the rapid testing initiative on Monday. About 2.1 million iHealth kits are going out to 102 communities across the state.