Manatee quickly runs out of free at-home tests as omicron surges cases near record levels
COVID-19 cases are surging with the contagious omicron variant spreading throughout the United States, and record-high new cases were reported in Florida on Monday.
There are also near-record numbers in Manatee County, and on Tuesday the county announced 7,500 testing kits will be made available to residents on a first-come, first-serve basis.
But by 10:15 a.m. Wednesday, all of the free testing kits were distributed at three libraries, while supplies were expected to quickly run out at the other three libraries after they opened at noon.
Manatee County’s Public Safety Department tweeted Monday that 18.2% of COVID-19 tests were positive last week.
The CDC’s Community Profile Report on Monday showed Manatee County has:
- 70,594 total positive cases
- 17,506 cumulative cases per 100,000 people
- 1,229 total deaths
304 cumulative deaths per 100,000 people.
A graph of data from Johns Hopkins University since the pandemic began also shows new cases in Manatee County are near the record highs seen with the delta variant in the early fall, though studies are showing omicron is not as deadly.
On Thursday, 237,419 people in Manatee were fully vaccinated, or 58.9% of the county’s population, according to the CDC.
Across Florida, 51,644 COVID-19 cases and no new deaths were added Monday.
How to get a free COVID test kit
Starting Wednesday, Manatee County is distributing 7,500 at-home COVID-19 test kits at all county libraries.
The Florida Department of Health supplied the rapid test kits, which will be available at the Palmetto and South Manatee library branches at 9 a.m., the Braden River branch at 10 a.m. and the Downtown Central, Island and Rocky Bluff branches at 12 p.m.
Those are the times each library opens Wednesday.
A Manatee County government press release said the following are key points with the at-home test kits:
- COVID-19 self-tests — also referred to as home tests or over-the-counter (OTC) tests — are one of many risk-reduction measures, along with vaccination, masking, and physical distancing, that protect you and others by reducing the chances of spreading SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
- If you test positive, you should isolate and inform your healthcare provider, as well as any close contacts.
- Consider using a self-test before joining indoor gatherings with others who are not in your household.
- A positive self-test result means that the test detected the virus, and you are very likely to have an infection and should stay home or isolate for 10 days, wear a mask if you could have contact with others, and avoid indoor gatherings to reduce the risk of spreading disease to someone else.
- A negative self-test result means that the test did not detect the virus and you may not have an infection, but it does not rule out infection. Repeating the test within a few days, with at least 24 hours between tests, will increase the confidence that you are not infected.
There are four test kits available per person at each library’s front desk.
Last Thursday, the Washington Post reported the U.S. doubled its highest daily totals from last winter and reported the U.S. had its highest seven-day average of new cases with 343,172 new cases a day.
This story was originally published January 4, 2022 at 4:12 PM.
