10,000 At-Home COVID-19 Test Kits Delivered In Smithtown

SMITHTOWN, NY — More than 10,000 at-home COVID-19 test kits were distributed to seniors and other vulnerable people in the Town of Smithtown.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone on Friday hosted a news conference at the Smithtown Senior Center to announce the distribution of coronavirus test kits across the county's municipalities and non-profits. Smithtown Supervisor Edward Wehrheim joined Bellone and met with residents to hand out bags filled with KN95 face masks and at-home COVID-19 test kits.

"It is our hope that we’re at the light at the end of the tunnel, with regards to COVID-19, as people need to get back to living again, enjoying life again, and finding some sense of normalcy, which we’ve been robbed of for the last two and half years," Wehrheim stated. "There is no question that our seniors and individuals living on a fixed income are feeling the economic burden of the pandemic and inflation. Thanks to Suffolk County, we can ease some of that burden by distributing these supplies to local assisted living homes, faith-based organizations, food pantries, and community centers."

Families can once again visit loved ones in nursing homes with easy access to at-home test kits, Wehrheim said. Smithtown's elder citizens can go back to the town's senior center and enjoy socializing with friends again, as well.

"Most importantly, we can get back to really living again, safely and well equipped to handle whatever the future has in store," Wehrheim said.

The Town of Smithtown collected more than 10,000 at-home COVID-19 test kits and 500 KN95 face masks from Suffolk County Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services on Friday. All of the supplies were then delivered by the Town of Smithtown Parks Department to local nursing homes, assisted living facilities, faith-based organizations and local food pantries, community centers, and places of worship across the town's seven hamlets.

Bellone said it is time to transition back to normal, as the endemic stage of the coronavirus is here.

"This virus is not going to go away," Bellone said on Friday. "It is going to be here with us. It is something that we are going to live with."

Bellone said ensuring the elder population and those who are immunocompromised have easy access to the tools they need to continue to stay safe is important.

An additional supply of more than 2,500 test kits has been made available for a second distribution event to be held in mid-March at the Smithtown Senior Center. The date and time of the second event will be announced via the Town of Smithtown Mobile App, which is free on Google Play and the App Store.