The North Dakota Department of Health (NDDoH) today announced it will make more than 1.5 million at-home COVID-19 test kits available statewide. The week of Feb. 14, testing kits are available for pickup at the West Fargo Fire Department 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Friday.
The at-home test kits, which were ordered by NDDoH with funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, have begun to arrive in the state. The program is intended to supplement the ongoing federal program to distribute free tests. The test kits are being distributed statewide and will be available for pickup, at no cost, starting Tuesday, Feb. 15. It is recommended that citizens pick up tests as needed, with a start of two tests per household member.
“These at-home COVID-19 tests will continue to expand testing access to all citizens. Individuals may choose to use these tests to determine their COVID-19 status before attending family gatherings, going to work or school, visiting loved ones in long-term care facilities, and attending sporting events or any other large event,” said Gov. Doug Burgum. “Along with vaccination, participating in COVID-19 testing continues to be an important action in slowing the spread of the virus in our communities.”
“The at-home COVID-19 tests will further empower North Dakotans to make informed decisions about their health for work, social events, and travel. This will also allow a shift from relying on local public health as the primary resource for testing,” said North Dakota State Health Officer, Dr. Nizar Wehbi. “Always remember that if you are not feeling well, stay at home and avoid big crowds. COVID-19 is still circulating in our communities, and at-home testing is one additional way we can continue to protect ourselves and our loved ones.”
Individuals who would like to pick up these free test kits can find a location near them via the NDDoH website at: http://health.nd.gov/covidtesting — located in the “test locations” table. This table will be updated twice a week as more locations receive shipments of the at-home tests.
Two types of tests have arrived as part of these initial orders. These include Celltrion which is authorized for individuals age 14 and older and iHealth, which is authorized for people age 2 and older.
There are no at-home tests authorized for children under age 2; children that age should be tested at a community testing location or clinic.
Individuals do not need to report their at-home test results to NDDoH, as the department cannot validate results from home testing kits. Those who need a validated result or a letter for official purposes should seek testing from a health care provider or from a local public health testing site.