Eleven Central Massachusetts communities are receiving a portion of the 2.1-million at-home COVID tests set to be distributed by the Gov. Charlie Baker administration, per a Monday announcement.
Those communities include: Fitchburg, Framingham, Gardner, Leominster, Milford, Oxford, Southbridge, Uxbridge, Webster, West Boylston, and Worcester.
The Baker Administration said it selected 102 towns to receive tests during the first distribution round, and they were selected based on the percentage of families living below the poverty level. The free tests will be distributed by each municipality.
The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency will deliver the tests to each community this week, in partnership with the Massachusetts National Guard, per the announcement.
The state paid $5 per test, which come in a pack of two.
At the same time, the Baker Administration is working on plans to allow municipalities to purchase at-home tests at a fixed, state-negotiated price from manufacturers, with orders able to be placed beginning next month. Those interested are allowed to use American Rescue Plan Act and Federal COVID-19 Relief funding to buy the tests.
A procurement opportunity for manufacturers went live on Friday.
