Beacon's Allotment Of COVID-19 Home Test Available At Howland Public Library (Updated)

UPDATED 1/6/2022: All test kits have been distributed as of 3:20pm Thursday. As of now, there is no shipping schedule for next shipments, as Dutchess County awaits shipments from New York State.)

The City of Beacon’s allotment of COVID-19 tests from New York State, which are distributed through Dutchess County, who allocates a portion of them to each municipality based on population, are available now at the Howland Public Library at 313 Main Street during the library’s Open hours. Per the library, there is no curb-side pickup available.

Quantity is limited and is available on a first come, first serve basis. The first shipment of COVID-19 test kits that Beacon received by way of Dutchess County was available at the Beacon Police Department. Beacon received 250 test kits and which was depleted in 3 hours.

Newly elected Councilperson Justice McCray, who has worked at both Beacon’s public library as well as Cold Spring’s public library, advocated for the Howland Public Library to be the most accessible and least intimidating location for the distribution. Stating in a Comment on ALBB’s first article about the first shipment, prior to being sworn in as a Council Member, Justice expressed: “The City needs to make kits available elsewhere. Many Black, Brown, and otherwise margnizalied poeple do not feel safe or comfortable around police. Only having kits at the police station is not equitable or accessible to many people in Beacon and while I recognize it’s the easy option, the City should also consider fostering/strengthening community partnerships with local busineses to help offer kits or work with organizations that are serving our most vulnerable neighbors like Mutual Aid Beacon to offer at-home no-contact kit deliveries.”

The Howland Public Library first announced the availability of the test kits at around 12pm Thursday (1/6/2022): “The City of Beacon has supplied us with at-home COVID-19 tests and KN95 masks to be distributed to city residents. The tests are available at the Front Desk, Today, Thursday, January 6th, Noon-7pm. While supplies last. One (1) test kit per household and each kit contains two (2) tests. Available to City of Beacon City residents only. Proof of residence required. Masks are also available at the Front Desk with a limit of two (2) per person present. No proof of residency required for the masks. No "curbside" delivery of these items is available.”

The City of Beacon posted an alert in their top Announcement bar of their website.

Councilperson McCray stressed on their social media “to keep those in mind who may not otherwise have access.” If you already got one from the first round, consider bowing out of this round. If you have symptoms or were exposed, by all means, go get one no matter what. Be sure to swab plenty of snot to get good results!

Also note, based on the Howland Public Library’s innitial photo announcing availability, they may be making a subtle hint to kick back and relax with an enjoyable historical romance book. Catherine Coulter (the book jackets pictured here) is one such example you’ll be able to borrow from the library. Philippa Gregory is another author from that genre you may enjoy. If you’re not getting out much, the Beacon Library offers several digital services you’ll want to check out.

Dutchess County Announces New Shipment Of Tests and Masks To Be Sent To Communities

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!

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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.

BCSD Families and District Report In First Day Back COVID Results - Community Is Hopeful With Layered Strategies

Despite the surging roar of the Omicron COVID-19 variant all over the United States, Beacon families remain hopeful that in-person learning can remain in place for kids and teachers if layered protection measures are in place, like the Test To Stay program (exposed kids testing negative for that day can go to school). Most families see that happening with a combination of regular vaccinations to ease the infection and hopefully reduce or prevent “long COVID;” coupled with easier testing to isolate a contagious case.

On Sunday, the Beacon City School District (BCSD) announced that they received their first shipment of at-home rapid tests, and would distribute them to families. That evening, Superintendent Landahl reported that nearly 60% of the BSCD community had come to pick up one test kit per child. Families who were unable to come could fill out a link to request that a test be placed in their child’s backpack. Those who filled it out prior to 9AM the next day received a test kit on Monday. Those who filled out the link prior to 9AM the next day would receive it next. The link was not intended for families who picked up at the in-person drive-through. New York’s Governor Kathy Hochul indicated that more shipments would be coming in her Winter Surge Plan.

At Monday’s close of the day, Dr. Landahl reported via his email distribution network to district families that of those who received the test on Sunday, 18 positive cases were voluntarily reported in to the district by Sunday evening. Those who tested negative did not need to do anything.

As for COVID-19 cases over the Winter break, Dr. Landahl released their findings, clarifying the official and unofficial known cases: “The state reporting mechanism for cases in schools does not operate over winter break and those are the cases we report to the community. By that standard, we have 1 case of COVID-19 to report to you today at Beacon High School. Individuals needing to quarantine or Test To Stay have been notified. Over break, we had close to 40 cases of COVID-19 reported to us from families and staff.  Many people did not have access to tests over the holidays so the number is probably higher.”

Some teachers in the district emailed parents and caregivers with preparation instructions on what to do if their child was at home so that the child could keep up with lessons. That has included videos that the teachers make, videos to other teachers that are recommended, and additional Remote Learning Tutoring sessions. Some teachers make extra time available in the morning or evening for their students, and some teachers have added a remote component to this for kids at home.

Dr. Landahl ended his email with a hats off to the community: “I want to take a moment to commend our families for being so diligent in reporting cases to us, letting us know about symptoms, and using the at home rapid tests. All of these efforts help us! Thank you! I also want to commend our staff today for a strong start after winter break. Thanks for everything you do!”

Beacon City School District Distributes Self-Test At Home COVID Tests Immediately Upon Receiving

As has been constant during this pandemic, the Beacon City District School (BCSD) Superintendent Matthew Landahl has kept the community updated with COVID shifts as cases ebb and flow. In his weekly Superintendent Update email sent on December 30, 2021, he stated that the district might receive a shipment of rapid self-tests before school starts on Monday, and if so, he explained what the process would be.

The line at Rombout Middle School to get COVID-19 home tests from the first shipment was long but moved swiftly.

On New Years Day, like a warm hug, Dr. Landahl sent a robo-call and text to the public school community announcing that the rapid tests had arrived, and would be distributed to BCSD students on January 2, 2022, at Rombout Middle School from 1:30-3:30pm. He requested volunteers to come to help organize people and hand out the tests.

Caregivers were instructed to write down their children’s names and ages for record keeping purposes. Those who did not write down the name had to pull into a special name-writing parking spot. Those who missed the distribution could register online to have their child take home a test in their backpacks the following school days.

At 1pm, cars already lined Matteawan Road early, backed up past the middle school, gradually to Verplanck Avenue with more cars wanting to turn right from Wilkes Street. This kind of traffic buildup usually only occurs on nights of a choral concert where students from several BCSD schools are performing at once. But that was in the pre-pandemic days when audience sizes were not limited.

The volunteers had opened up early, and the line moved briskly. One car did break down and needed a jump (note to self: juice the USB-powered jumping cube for just such an occasion…and find the USB-powered jumping cube somewhere in the car or shed).

Two pathways were created to receive handouts of COVID-19 home tests for BCSD students.

Several Board of Education Members attended the event, making sure it ran smoothly. Dr. Landahl walked between volunteer parking attendants and acted as a shuffler of cars after they were given one test box per student, answering questions from parents as parents and caregivers pulled away.

Dr. Landahl’s instructions were guidance. He encouraged caregivers to help students take the tests Sunday evening, before the first Monday of school back after the winter holiday, but stressed that taking the test was not mandated. Nobody has to take the test to go to school.

If one tested positive with this test or any test, Dr. Landahl encouraged people to email himself or the Deputy Superintendent, Ann Marie Quartironi with the update. No need to update them if the test was negative (yay you!). While rapid tests have questionable false negatives, they are so far a part of this pandemic.

A negative test result from an at-home rapid test sent home to BCSD students. Now everyone gets to experience the test-strip based anxiety of a home-pregnancy test!

Dr. Landahl reported that 60% of the BCSD students were given test kits during the Sunday distribution. The remainder of the students who did not make it to the distribution can sign up to get a test kit put into their backpacks via a special link that was emailed to caregivers.

While some caregivers were worried about supplies running out, New York’s Governor Hochul seems committed to having students tested on the regular. Other states like Ohio are far ahead of New York in this initiative, having provided home test kits to students and libraries since before Thanksgiving 2021.

PS: Kids are calling this “the boogie test” because you got to swab as much snot as possible!

Are At-Home Rapid Test Kits Coming To Residents Of The City Of Beacon?

After Governor Hochul’s announcement of her “Winter Sure Plan,” at least one shipment of rapid home tests arrived to Beacon via Dutchess County via New York State. All municipalities were sent one shipment. The City of Beacon decided that the Beacon Police Department would hand them out. The Beacon Police Department posted an announcement on their Facebook Page. ALBB ran an article promoting their message.

The demand was so great, that supplies lasted only a few hours. By the next day, or day after, the Beacon Police removed their Facebook post. Mayor Kyriacou never made a robo-call or text or email to announce that test kits had arrived, and City of Beacon never published any announcement to their website, as the Mayor stated they would at a City Council Meeting toward the end of the year.

The Communications Department of Dutchess County who is normally very responsive to questions, was on vacation during this time, so did not return requests for shipment schedules when ALBB reached out.

If the City of Beacon received any additional shipments, it is unknown how they would have made that announcement, based the way they did not announce the first shipment.

However, on the City of Beacon’s website, you can learn about the Inauguration of new City Council Members that happened January 1 had been closed to the public out of an abundance of caution for COVID, and the proper way to dispose of a Xmas Tree (just make sure no lights or ornaments are on it, don’t put it in plastic, and leave it nekid and natural on the curb for the Highway Department to pick up…they will take it to the Transfer Station to turn into mulch).

Beacon City School's "Test To Stay" Program - How It Works - Governor Says Tests Might Come Home In Backpacks In Future

Beacon High School. The Community Room that currently hosts the “Test To Stay" program is to the right of the front door.
Photo Credit: Beacon City School District

Beacon City School District’s Test To Stay (TTS) COVID-19 program started the week ending in December 10, 2021, as announced by Superintendent Landahl in his weekly Superintendent Update email. This is a voluntary program that requires parents consent for their child’s participation to get tested for COVID-19 if they are exposed to a person with a positive result.

In that announcement, Dr. Landahl stated that after the Winter Break, the district plans to make rapid testing available for a limited number of students outside of the quarantine process. Governor Kathy Hochul indicated in her Winter Surge Plan announcement on 12/20/2021 that with the expansion of tests to districts, that might be possible. At the encouragement of the Governor, President Biden has authorized the Defense Production Act to make more tests.

“This [quarantine after exposure] is so disruptive to their education, as well as the parents, who’ve been desperately trying to get back to a normal life, get back to their jobs. And the lack of childcare has been, just another area of friction for these families that have been really hit so hard.”

— Governor Kathy Hochul

If a student or staff is identified in a contact tracing map from a student or staff who tests positive for COVID-19, the people in the contact tracing chain may be eligible to test each morning of their quarantine period with rapid COVID-19 tests provided to the Beacon City School District by New York State, via Dutchess County. In order to attend school for that day (does not include extra curriculars and sports at this time). This is at no cost to the district.

Said Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro on 12/17/2021 in support of the program, as he wrote a letter encouraging Governor Hochul to provide additional funding to the program: “Dutchess County has continually demonstrated our commitment to supporting safe, in-person education through layered mitigation strategies and has assisted local school districts with logistical challenges associated with getting their TTS programs started.

“While the program is not without complications, the value of the approach is unimpeachable. Thanks to TTS, hundreds of Dutchess County students have already benefited from the ability to stay in school, without unnecessary disruption of quarantine following an exposure. This school year has prompted repeated exposures and TTS has provided a vital, safe alternative to having students sit at home with little to no educational enrichment.

“Importantly, TTS also provides increased information about the health status of exposed students by effectively creating a targeted surveillance testing program where parental consent is more easily attained.“

Governor Hochul outlined in her Winter Surge Plan announced on 12/20/2021 that the Test To Stay program would remain funded, and receive additional tools. She outlined her philosophy in her speech on how the program will continue to work:

“Children are in a classroom, someone tests positive. Ordinarily, they would have been sent home for a long period of time. And then even if someone - they go back - someone tests positive again, the next week they're sent home again. This is so disruptive to their education, as well as the parents, who've been desperately trying to get back to a normal life, get back to their jobs. And the lack of childcare has been, just another area of friction for these families that have been really hit so hard.

“So, we'll be making sure that there's, in their backpacks, they will be sent home with testing kits. Children test positive, we know it, someone in the classroom, the kids in the classroom will be sent home with testing kits. So, we're working on that supply chain right now. So starting in early January, we will be able to address that. So there's no reason why our children can’t stay in school. Really important to me. Also, talking about education, we've been in contact with the leaders of our higher education institutions, our SUNY school presidents and our private school presidents. And we're convening a symposium of those leaders to talk about getting back our college students when they return under normal circumstances a little bit later in January and making sure they follow the same return protocols.

“We don't have that disruption again to their education and what the professors and teachers and they had to go through, but also the economic impact, many of our college campuses typically upstate or in small towns, that is the livelihood of their economy. Having those students in person. So, for a number of reasons, it goes to my philosophy of protecting the health of individuals, protecting the health of New Yorkers, as well as protecting the health of the economy.”

How Test To Stay Works For Beacon City School Students

The following information is from the school nurse sent to a parent of a student identified in a contact tracing map.

The Test To Stay program is optional for district students to participate in, and must have parent consent. The district is working with Dr. Neal Smoller for administration of the shots (as well as optional pediatric vaccinations during pop-up clinics). Those who choose not to participate in the Test To Stay program will keep their child home for the quarantine period prescribed to them by the school nurse. Those students will remain in the district’s Fully Remote (FRT) status for the duration of the quarantine.

Based on experiences of parents who had children identified in contact tracing, when the child is identified in a contact tracing map, the school nurse will call the parents or caregivers to find out more information. Depending on when and if the child was vaccinated will contribute to if the child is eligible to Test To Stay. For instance, if the child received their second vaccination shot one week prior to being exposed, they are considered not fully vaccinated yet (as the body is still working on building up resistance to the virus) and the child is eligible for the Test To Stay program.

However, If the child is not symptomatic, and considered fully vaccinated based on the length of time since their second shot, then the nurse might not recommend Test To Stay, and may also not recommend a 10 day quarantine. This is the experience one parent had when their child was exposed twice in one week and identified in two different contact tracing maps. The child was able to return to school without testing, and without quarantining.

As of now, testing is between 7am-8:45am at the Beacon High School Community Room There will be a nurse there to test the student. Students and their caregiver will have to wait for about 15 minutes in their car or outside. If the child is positive, the nurse will call the caregiver. If the child is negative, no phone call will be made, and the child can go to school.

This is to be repeated daily for the length of the prescribed quarantine period.

Those who choose the TTS option and get a negative result are not lifted out of quarantine completely, only for the school day and no extra curricular activities may be participated in. During recent Board of Education meetings, Beacon’s Superintendent Landahl has expressed that he does not understand this logic, but is honoring this requirement from New York State.

The test must be done daily prior to each school day up until the 7th day after possible exposure. The student must be brought to school (no bus transportation to school prior to the test) for the test. After testing negative and attending school for the day, the student may take the bus home for that day.

Testing Out Of Quarantine Completely After 7th Day

As of now (12/23/2021), a second layer of testing out is added to this equation. From the letter sent by the school nurse to a parent whose child was identified in contact tracing and eligible for Test To Stay:

“Choosing the TTS option also allows you to have your student test out of their quarantine completely after their 7th day of possible exposure.”

Steps to Test out of Quarantine

• Get a COVID-19 test on day 5 or later of quarantine. Rapid & PCR tests accepted.

• Upon receiving a negative test result, immediately send the result to TestOut@dutchessny.gov.

• Wait for a release from a quarantine letter from the Dutchess County Department of Behavioral and Community Health. Letter turn around is usually 24 hours from submission. Note, it may take up to 36 hours during non business hours (weekends).

• Quarantine ends after day 7 or later with a release from the quarantine letter. However, if you do not have the release letter you must continue to quarantine through day 10.

• Continue monitoring for symptoms through day 14

• For assistance call the COVID-19 information line at 845-486-3555.

This process is not for Test To Stay for daily school attendance. It is for lifting quarantine completely after the 7th day to do extra curricular actives.