Oneida County Distributing More Free COVID-19 Test Kits to Residents

Public Drive-Thru Pick-Ups in Utica & Rome on Jan. 29; More Supply to Libraries

Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. announced today that the county will be distributing more free COVID-19 test kits to residents at drive-thru events at Mohawk Valley Community College and Griffiss International Airport this weekend, and through the Mid-York Library System.

“Oneida County will continue to give its residents every tool necessary to ensure their health and safety during this ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,” Picente said. “These free rapid home test kits are useful in helping to identify positive cases and preventing further spread. I encourage everyone to get vaccinated and boosted against this virus and to get tested when displaying the symptoms associated with it. In addition to the distribution of free home test kits, the county also provides many options for PCR tests each week.”

The drive-thru give away events will take place from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Jan. 29. Three thousand test kits will be available at each location and will be limited to one per person while supplies last. Distribution will take place at the following county locations:

• Mohawk Valley Community College, 1101 Sherman Drive, Utica.
  
  • Vehicles should enter on Armory Drive from Culver Avenue. Once on Armory Drive, take the first left onto Tilden Avenue straight into the MVCC parking lot where county employees will distribute the test kits. To exit, take Tilden Avenue north to Armory Drive, right on Armory Drive and back out to Culver Avenue.
• Griffiss International Airport, 706 Hangar Road, Rome.

Picente also announced that 1,000 test kits will be distributed through the Mid-York Library System. Those kits are free and available to the public via walk-in pick up at participating libraries. Earlier this month, the county distributed another 1,000 test kits through Mid-York as well.

Oneida County purchased 15,000 test kits to distribute for free to the community. The county also received 10,000 test kits from New York State, which it has been giving out by request to local municipalities. Three thousand kits were given out to the public earlier this month at drive-thru events at county facilities in Barneveld, Oriskany and Taberg. Oneida County has also given test kits to The Center in Utica for distribution to the refugee population it serves.

The county will be announcing more public test kit distribution events in the near future.

Anyone who tests positive using a home kit is required to report the result to the Oneida County Health Department. That can be done by visiting: https://lfweb.ocgov.net/Forms/COVIDTestResults or by calling 315-798-5431.

If you do test positive on a home kit, you should isolate immediately and then confirm the result by scheduling a PCR test.