INDIANAPOLIS — More than one million COVID-19 cases have been reported since the pandemic began. The first positive test result was recorded on March 6, 2020. One year, seven months, and 12 days later, health officials in Marion County hope that testing is the key to tracking COVID-19 hot spots and doing more to stop the spread.
A new, Say Yes! COVID-19 Test At-Home Testing challenge is providing Indianapolis residents in targeted zip codes to access free, rapid, COVID-19 test kits that can be self-administered at home. The test takes 10 minutes before results are shown.
The Say Yes! COVID-19 Test program encourages residents to use the tests twice a week, regardless of symptoms, to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
It takes only 20 minutes a week and 80 minutes a month. That's the amount of time Marion County health officials hope a new testing program can help identify and contain COVID-19 hotspots.
Marion County residents in the identified zip codes can order the testing kits by clicking here for home delivery.
The target zip codes are 46222, 46201, 46218, 46208, 46224, 46235, 46202, 46241, 46203, 46226, 46204, 46205, 46227, 46221, 46219, 46225, 46260, 46229, 46254, 46107, 46216, 46240, and 46268.
"I mean, my concerns are a lot lower, it's just like, you never know," said Aaron Teater, who lives in one of the impacted zip codes.
These zip codes were identified based on high rates of COVID-19, lower than average rates of vaccination, and the concentration of essential workers.
“While vaccination remains the strongest tool we have to combat the pandemic, free, rapid, self-administered testing will give community members one more way to help reduce the spread of COVID-19,” said Dr. Virginia Caine, Director and Chief Medical Officer of the Marion County Public Health Department. “Anyone can just swab the front of their nose and perform this test in the privacy of their home to see results within 10 minutes and make more informed choices about their day.”
Each test package (four kits; eight tests total) supports home testing twice a week for four weeks for an individual. The testing challenge lasts for at least a month, or until all tests are used.
Marion County residents can log on to COVIDhometestindy.org to order test kits for delivery. Test kits will also be available for pick up locally at the following locations:
- MCPHD Northeast District Health Office: 6042 E. 21st St.
- MCPHD Action Health Center: 2868 Pennsylvania St.
- MCPHD Northwest District Health Office: 6940 N. Michigan Rd.
- MCPHD Hasbrook Building: 3838 N. Rural St.
- MCPHD South District Headquarters at 7551 Shelby St.
The testing program is open to Marion County resident only. The health department said those who haven't gotten the vaccine, and those at high risk are ideal candidates, but anyone is welcome to participate.
Health officials remind Hoosiers the best way to get control of COVID-19 will be through vaccinations.
Dr. Virginia Caine told WRTV 61% of those eligible are vaccinated in Marion County, but that's still below where she would like to be at 70%.
Health officials added testing twice weekly will help identify and confine the spread of the virus quickly, even from those who are not showing symptoms. After this initial month-long testing period health officials in Marion County will then analyze the data collected.
