Mayor Simmons today announced plans to distribute approximately 20,000 COVID-19 at-home rapid tests and masks to Stamford residents to curb the spread of COVID-19. 

This is the first allocation of what may be several deliveries from the State. This first distribution will include 20,000 tests designated for Stamford residents. Distribution of these kits is scheduled for tomorrow, Sunday, January 2, 2022. The City of Stamford will be holding three distribution locations at Cummings Park, Kosciuszko Park and Scalzi Park, which will begin at 12:00 P.M. until supplies last. This distribution is for Stamford residents only. 

The entry point for Cummings Park is Shippan Avenue Northbound only; and for Scalzi Park entry point from east bound Bridge Street only. You must have your license or other proof of residency. If you are unable to make this session, note that we expect additional deliveries in the near future.

Test distribution is currently focused on those high risk and socially vulnerable neighborhoods where high rates of COVID-19 have been contracted; to those individuals enrolled in the home bound program; for the senior population 65 years old and older; for residents that are symptomatic or that have a known exposure to someone who tested positive.  As supplies are limited at this time, residents will receive 2 tests per household.

“This program with the State is just one more way to increase testing capacity here in Stamford to help residents identify COVID-19 in order to receive necessary care as needed,”  Mayor Simmons said. “I directed our emergency management team to be first in line at the State distribution site to ensure Stamford’s allotment of tests for distribution to residents. I continue to strongly urge residents to do their part to get their vaccinations and boosters and I will continue to fight for more testing and vaccination capacity for residents here in Stamford.”

Residents are reminded that the quantity of tests received from the State is limited.

“The best use of these tests is if you have symptoms or if you know you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19; if you are exposed and have no symptoms, test on day 5 after the exposure. If you have symptoms of COVID-19 and test positive on the home test, there is typically no need to verify the results with a PCR test” stated Dr. Henry Yoon, the City of Stamford Medical Advisor. “You shouldn’t need to use the test now if you’re feeling well and have not been exposed to anyone with COVID-19”.

“We continue to ask residents to utilize simple and effective interventions to fight off the current surge of COVID-19 from the Omicron variant by getting their vaccinations and boosters, utilizing, proper masking and other mitigation strategies,” Jody Bishop-Pullan the Stamford Director of Health stated. Because of limited testing capacity and the scarcity of these tests at this time, residents should come to the distribution locations to get tests only if needed so that distribution can be to as many residents in need as possible.

Dr. Asha Shah, Stamford Hospital’s director of Infectious Diseases stated, “If you test positive and have no symptoms or mild symptoms, you can likely recover at home, especially if you are fully vaccinated, boosted and don’t have medical conditions that put you at high risk for severe disease.”

Other medical recommendations: 

• If you are staying home and recovering, to protect your loved ones, be sure to wear a mask, wash your hands, and avoid close contact with household members, especially those who may be high risk or are unvaccinated. 
• If you have questions about a positive test result or are unsure of how severe your symptoms are, call your Health Care Provider. 
• If you have questions about a positive result and your symptoms, and do not have a physician, a list of possible resources will be included on the flyers that will be included with your test kits. 
• If you are having serious symptoms such as difficulty breathing, chest pain or uncontrolled fever, you should seek medical attention.”

Residents who have not been vaccinated should get their COVID-19 vaccine and/or booster now and can do so by visiting: ct.gov/covidvaccine.

For all vaccinated people 16 and older that are eligible for a booster, please get one as soon as possible. For all school-age children 5 and older that are not vaccinated yet, please use this school break to get vaccinated. Vaccinations saves lives and reduce risk to keep people who get COVID-19 out of the hospital.

The Connecticut Department of Public Health is in the process of adding 7 more community testing sites to its current roster of 23 state-sponsored sites. Information on the approximately 400 COVID-19 testing sites currently operating in Connecticut is available by calling 2-1-1 or visiting 211CT.org.