MARION — At-home covid-19 test kits will be available for Marion residents to pick up at a drive-up distribution event from 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 1 at Benjamin D. Cushing Community Center, 465 Mill St., Town Administrator James McGrail, Public Health Director Lori Desmarais, Marion’s Emergency Management Team and the Council on Aging have announced. 

The event will end at 11 a.m. or while supplies last. This will be a drive-up event and those receiving test kits will remain in their vehicles. 

Marion has been given an allocation of at-home covid-19 test kits by Plymouth County. As part of the Plymouth County Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Program, Plymouth County used CARES Act funding to purchase 400,000 at-home rapid antigen COVID-19 self-test kits for distribution throughout the county.

The town has received 1,800 test kits. Each kit has two tests. Households of four or more people will receive two kits (four tests). No more than two kits will be given per household. Test kits cannot be reserved or claimed ahead of the drive-up distribution event. Proof of residency will be required. 

Homebound seniors can contact the Community Center at (508) 748-3570 to schedule a delivery. The Marion Fire Department will also deliver tests directly to the Little Neck and Marconi Village facilities for their residents only. Homebound seniors and residents of these facilities do not need to attend the distribution on Tuesday.

"Testing continues to be an important measure in reducing the spread of covid-19, and these at-home rapid tests are a convenient and easy-to-use tool for residents to have access to when needed," McGrail said. "We would also like to express our appreciation to Plymouth County for providing these tests to the town."

All residents are also encouraged to order at-home Ccovid-19 tests from the federal government. Each U.S. household is entitled to free rapid covid-19 tests, which can be ordered online at COVIDtests.gov.

At the outset of the program, each household will be limited to four tests, which will be shipped for free to homes via the United States Postal Service. Ordering is as simple as entering your name and address.

Information and guidance on self-testing can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. For guidance from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health on what to do if you test positive, visit www.mass.gov/info-details/about-covid-19-testing#what-do-i-do-if-my-test-is-positive.