140K at-home COVID tests to be distributed by DHEC across state

Landon Stamper, Aiken Standard, S.C.
·1 min read

Jan. 21—As COVID-19 continues to spread across South Carolina, the state's top health agency is rolling out at-home rapid tests to increase testing access.

The test kits, each containing two tests, have been distributed to S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control public health departments around the state for community use and will be available for pickup beginning Monday, Jan. 24.

Residents can visit DHEC's testing locator, scdhec.gov/covid19/covid-19-testing-locations, to see whether their local department has the tests available. Aiken's department is located at 222 Beaufort St. N.E.

To date, DHEC has ordered over 2 million tests and expects to receive the full order over the course of the next several weeks.

These at-home rapid tests are provide a result in minutes as opposed to hours or days, according to the agency.

The rapid tests are in limited supply, DHEC noted, and residents are not guaranteed a test when attempting to acquire one.

One test kit, containing two tests, will be given to an individual who arrives in person to a PHD. Individuals must be physically present to receive a test kit. A person may not pick up test kits for other people.

DHEC is asking residents to have patience when attempting to acquire a rapid test and make alternative plans to get tested in case they cannot obtain one.

A full list of testing locations can be found on DHEC's website.