Phoenix buying at-home COVID-19 tests and KN95 masks for residents
Christina Estes/KJZZ
At-home COVID-19 tests were sent by the federal government by USPS.
On Wednesday, the Phoenix City Council unanimously approved spending $15 million in federal funds to expand testing and vaccines services and $10 million on at-home tests and masks. Find community testing and vaccines events here.
According to a city council report, Phoenix will provide the tests along with KN95 masks — those are considered the ‘gold standard’ in COVID-19 protection — to contractors who’ve already been handling community testing and vaccine events. Data is supposed to drive initial distribution with kits first going to areas with the highest spread of COVID-19, followed by school districts and senior centers throughout the city.
Here’s the phased approach for test kits and masks:
Phase 1
- Add the distribution of at-home rapid tests and KN95 masks to the City’s current community partners.
- This distribution will be in coordination with current testing and vaccination efforts through the Mobile Units and at the Static Sites. The distribution of the kits will be data-driven and focused on the communities throughout the City with the highest spread of COVID-19.
Phase 2
- Expand distribution of the Combating COVID Kits, including at-home rapid tests and KN95 masks, to school districts and to senior centers located throughout the City of Phoenix.
- Coordinate with the City Manager’s Youth and Education Office to ensure an equitable distribution of the Kits similar to the City’s previous PPE for Schools effort.
Phase 3
- Expand distribution of the Combating COVID Kits to City of Phoenix facilities throughout the community focusing on areas of the City with the highest spread of COVID-19.
- This expansion will include City of Phoenix libraries, community centers, senior centers, housing sites and other locations identified throughout the City. These locations will include an analysis of the spread of the virus and other factors including access to vaccinations, testing and other critical resources.
