Dutchess County announced today (Wednesday, January 5, 2022) that it has received another shipment of rapid tests and KN95 masks. The distribution amount each municipality (community) gets is based on their population. According to Beacon’s City Administrator Chris White quoted in the Highlands Current, Beacon received 250 test kits for the first shipment that was announced as available on 12/21/2021, and was gone within 3 hours.

The only way Beaconites knew about that shipment arrival was through a post the Beacon Police Department made on Facebook, which was deleted days later. A Little Beacon Blog wrote about here when the post was live. Otherwise, the Beacon community did not receive an official notice from the Mayor’s Office, as Mayor Kyriacou promised when he announced the expected shipment in advance during a City Council Meeting. That first shipment was also not put on the city’s website, despite other updates being made to the website about Christmas tree collection, and an inauguration ceremony being closed to the public due to COVID-19 safety reasons.

A Little Beacon Blog has been asking Dutchess County for details on the upcoming shipment from New York State, who has been boasting of over a billion dollars being spent on different initiatives, yet test kits for a deadly pandemic remain in short supply, even at private stores and urgent cares. Dutchess County responded to ALBB on 1/3/2021 that they did not have a specific date at that time.

Concerned that Beacon would miss the announcement for the next shipment, since the Mayor made no such announcement as promised, A Little Beacon Blog emailed Dutchess County again this morning 1/5/2021 asking if a press release would go out to all municipalities, to put the media on alert as to look for shipment notices from their municipalities to make sure they were made available to the public, instead of selectively handed out.

Looks like mail came!

As for when exactly this shipment is available to Beacon, residents will need to refresh their Facebook pages at the Beacon Police Department’s page, hoping that the social media manager was kind enough to make an update. Unless an announcement comes from the Mayor’s Office itself this time via robo-call/text/email.

The press release from Dutchess County has been republished in its entirety below. Several helpful tips are provided below, especially this one: if you test negative but still have symptoms, test again within 24-48 hours. Each test kit comes with 2 tests. If you have symptoms, consider keeping both tests for yourself, instead of sharing in the household if no one else has symptoms. Also - be sure to swab up high in your nose, and get lots of boogers and snot on it. Lots of snot is needed for good results!

Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro announced today the County has received another limited supply of at-home COVID-19 test kits from New York State which have been distributed to each municipality based on population size as well as to select community organizations that serve underserved populations.   Municipalities will be distributing test kits to residents over the next few days and residents should check their municipality’s website or call for specific information about when and where test kits will be available for pick up.

County Executive Molinaro said, “Testing facilities across the county have seen exponential growth in the number of residents seeking a COVID-19 test. These at-home test kits are a critical step towards increasing access to testing within our community as we continue to combat the surge in COVID-19 cases following the busy holiday season. We thank both our local and state partners for their cooperation in assisting Dutchess in distributing this valuable resource.”

To obtain a test kit, residents must supply their municipality with proof of residency.  Residents may only get the free test kits from the municipality in which they reside (you cannot go to a different town to get a kit).   As supply continues to be limited, each household can receive one test kit, which includes two individual tests. Kits will be available on a first-come, first-served basis and residents who previously received a free kit are asked to allow others who were unable to get a kit to get one.  While supplies are limited, distribution from New York State is expected to be recurring and the County will continue to work with local municipalities to distribute test kits as they are received.

Residents who receive a positive result from an at-home COVID-19 test must:

• Immediately self-isolate, even if they are vaccinated; adhere to current quarantine guidance; and

• take a picture of the positive at-home test result within 24 hours and report the positive case to the Dutchess County Department of Behavioral and Community Health (DBCH) at www.dutchessny.gov/COVIDpositive

With high active case volume, contract tracers may not be able to contact people in a timely manner, so residents are advised to follow isolation protocols for their quarantine period.  If a resident’s symptoms worsen or they have trouble breathing following a positive result from an at-home test, they should consult their physician or dial 9-1-1.    Individuals who work in healthcare or other congregate care setting may have different requirements, they should contact their employer and refer to NYS DOH return-to-work guidance for healthcare personnel.   

While at-home tests approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or Centers for Disease Control (CDC) are reliable, it is possible to receive a false negative. If residents experience symptoms and test negative, they’re urged to take another test within 24-48 hours. 

Negative test results from at-home tests may not be sufficient to return to work or school. DBCH will not accept negative results from at-home tests for early release from quarantine. Negative results do not need to be reported to DBCH.

The distribution of at-home test kits is part of Dutchess County’s comprehensive efforts in the fight against COVID-19.  The County, in cooperation with all municipalities and school districts as well as nonprofit organizations and small businesses, also already distributed nearly 50,000 test kits and over 100,000 KN95 masks. Multiple providers across Dutchess County have been offering rapid and PCR testing and Dutchess County has also been offering no-cost testing at the former JCPenney and has increased hours and testing staff at the site to accommodate increased demand.

Dr. Livia Santiago-Rosado, Department of Behavioral & Community Health Commissioner, reminds residents to use multi-layered prevention efforts to protect themselves and to prevent the spread of COVID including:

• Get vaccinated

• Get a booster shot if already vaccinated,

• Wear a mask in indoor public settings,

• Physical distance when possible,

• Wash hands and avoid touching face including nose and eyes,

• STAY HOME WHEN SICK OR HAVE SYMPTOMS to prevent spread of viruses, including COVID and flu,

• Adhere to protocols if you test positive.

For comprehensive information about COVID-19, including testing, vaccinations, prevention and more, visit www.DutchessNY.gov/Coronavirus or call the COVID information line at 845-486-3555.