Huntington To Dole Out 10,000+ Coronavirus Test Kits

HUNTINGTON STATION, NY — The Huntington Community Development Agency (CDA) is set to dole out more than 10,000 coronavirus test kits to Town of Huntington residents on Feb. 7, the town announced. The distribution is funded by the 2020 CARES Act Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus program.

Pre-registration is required. Recipients must be Town of Huntington residents and each household is eligible to receive up to four test kits.

People may apply online for the test kits on the Town of Huntington website.

"These at-home test kits will provide Huntington families peace of mind that it is safe to gather and visit with at-risk family members," Supervisor Ed Smyth stated. Smyth also serves as chairman of the Huntington CDA.

Distribution is set to start on Feb. 7 at Manor Field Park in Huntington Station, at East 5th Street, and will last until test kits are depleted. Hours of operation are planned to be Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesdays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., and Fridays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., while supplies last. The distribution site will not be open on federal holidays.

The Huntington Community Development Agency is also partnering with Value Drugs of Greenlawn to provide approximately 2,000 Town of Huntington residents an opportunity to receive a free onsite rapid results antigen COVID-19 test. Onsite testing is available now to pre-registered residents. Town residents may apply on the town website to receive a voucher for a free test. Once approved, residents can schedule their appointment with Value Drugs. Tests will be made available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Value Drugs is at 106 Broadway, Greenlawn.

"Due to the recent spike in coronavirus cases, and with the demand of test kits outpacing the supply, the Town of Huntington and the Community Development Agency felt it was imperative that we address the issue," said Leah M. Jefferson, director of the Community Development Agency. "The Town has faced enough difficulties during the pandemic, and we are grateful for the generosity of Value Drugs which has allowed us to meet the demand for rapid testing, and ultimately keep our community safer."

In September 2020, the Town of Huntington was awarded $1,869,925 in funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to prepare for, respond to, and prevent the spread of coronavirus. This funding was made available through the Community Development Block Grant- Coronavirus program. The funding has been made available to businesses and people in the community who have been directly impacted by the pandemic, as well as community agencies who assist Huntington residents.

At their Feb. 1 Community Development Agency meeting, the CDA Board authorized the distribution of 10,080 COVID-19 over-the-counter rapid tests to residents of the Town of Huntington purchased with $151,200 in Community Development Block Grant- Coronavirus funds.

The CDA Board also approved the contract with Value Drugs to administer rapid COVID-19 tests to Town of Huntington residents.