Councilwoman Raquetta Dotley in partnership with the Bethlehem Center will host a community event on Saturday from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. to give Hamilton County residents access to free, rapid COVID-19 tests that they can self-administer in the comfort of their home.
The event will kick off Councilwoman Dotley’s partnership with Say Yes! COVID Test, which is brought to the community by the Hamilton County Health Department through a cooperative effort with the National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and community partners. The program encourages Hamilton County residents to use the tests three times a week, regardless of symptoms, to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and keep the community healthy.
“As the city is slowly opening up it is essential that residents have the resources they need to continue to stay safe," said Councilwoman Dotley. "This is a great opportunity to serve the community by giving them easy, rapid, at-home testing to help reduce COVID-19 spread.”
The rapid, self-administered testing offered through Say Yes! COVID Test has potential to disrupt the “silent spread” of COVID-19 that occurs when people are infected, but do not yet have symptoms, said officials. Testing three times a week offers the best chance of identifying COVID-19 infection and isolating early, giving Hamilton County residents one more way to stay safe, along with hand washing, staying six feet away from others, vaccination, and wearing a mask, said officials.
The Say Yes! COVID Test kit distribution event will take place Saturday at the Bethlehem Center, 200 West 38th St. and will be provided free of charge.
For additional questions regarding the Say Yes! COVID Test At-Home Testing Challenge, contact SayYesCovidTest@duke.edu.