Free COVID-19 rapid tests are back at D.C. Public Libraries

Martin Austermuhle / DCist/WAMU

Free COVID-19 rapid tests are back and available for pick-up at D.C. Public Libraries again, just in time for Thanksgiving.

Starting on Wednesday, November 22, more than 20 public libraries in all eight wards are offering free COVID-19 rapid tests for pick-up to D.C. residents.

Local libraries are only open until 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 22 due to an adjusted holiday schedule. They will all be closed on Thursday and Friday and are set to open with normal hours on Saturday.

Community spread of COVID remains low, according to D.C. Health data from last week, but with the holidays here, the CDC and other experts are warning an uptick could be looming.

With that concern in mind, the District is reviving a program that dates back to late 2021. While it got off to a somewhat confusing start, the program soon received high marks and the distribution of free tests lasted more than a year. It ended in February of this year, with DC Health citing increased availability of tests at pharmacies, grocery stores, and medical offices as the reason.

About ten months later, though, the city is bringing the program back.

“Despite no significant rise in COVID-19 cases in the District, DC Health expanded access to increase test availability simply as a preventive measure as we enter the season when respiratory illnesses tend to rise,” a department spokesperson told DCist/WAMU via email.

The plan is to run the program through March 2024 “depending on supply and demand.” DC Health has provided each library with 360 tests to start and plans to resupply if needed, per the spokesperson.

The city is also partnering with 13 sites to offer free COVID-19 testing to people who are uninsured. Those sites includes CVSs, Walgreens, Safeway Pharmacies, and an urgent care clinic in every most Wards.

In addition, the federal government announced earlier this week that each U.S. household can once again order four more free COVID tests, which are then sent via the United States Postal Service. This is the sixth time that the government has sent out free tests. For those who didn’t take advantage of the last offer in September, households can still order the four tests that were made available then, for a total of eight tests.

The only information needed to receive the federally-issued tests are a name and a home address.

This story has been updated with additional information provided by DC Health.

Filed Under: COVID, d.c., d.c. public libraries, dcpl, holidays, rapid tests, thanksgiving,