Free COVID test kits and masks go fast in Cromwell – Middletown Press
CROMWELL — The free COVID test kit distribution Wednesday in Town Hall’s parking lot saw high demand as positivity rates across the state remain high.
Town officials said that despite the distribution being scheduled to begin at 2 p.m., some cars lined up as early as 10:30 a.m.
Supplies were limited, as the town received only 800 test kits. Mayor Allan Spotts said t…….
CROMWELL — The free COVID test kit distribution Wednesday in Town Hall’s parking lot saw high demand as positivity rates across the state remain high.
Town officials said that despite the distribution being scheduled to begin at 2 p.m., some cars lined up as early as 10:30 a.m.
Supplies were limited, as the town received only 800 test kits. Mayor Allan Spotts said the town originally requested 1,800 kits. Cromwell schools have also received their own test kit allocation.
Test kits and masks were also given to first responders and essential workers, Spotts said.
Emergency Management Director and Public Health Coordinator Salvatore Nesci said the distribution began just before 2 p.m. By 1:30 p.m., traffic was backed up at least one mile on West Street.
Spotts said cars waiting in the West Street line were on average stuck in traffic for about 45 minutes.
Motorists were directed around Town Hall, with two lanes of traffic created in front of the building for test distribution. Each lane had volunteers handing out test kits and masks.
“Emergency management has been working on distributions since 9/11 so we’re no strangers to this,” Nesci said. “This location is perfect for an indoor and outdoor POD, point of distribution. You can handle volume.”
By 2:30 p.m., N95 masks were almost gone. Nesci sent someone into the building to get surgical masks, which were given out once the N95 supply from the state was depleted.
Proof of residency was required and each vehicle was limited to one test kit and one box of masks. Nesci said the event was advertised to Cromwell residents.
By 2:45 p.m., the traffic on West Street had been cleared, and just five minutes later, there was a temporary lull in cars. Test kits were counted and Cromwell Police allowed in more vehicles based on the amount of tests left.
By 3 p.m., the line had been mostly cleared and both tests and masks were gone.
“We do not know when we’re going to get another shipment,” Spotts said in reference to test kits coming from the state.
