Highlights
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer asked the MDHHS to begin distributing more than 300,000 test kits to schools and other priority groups.
To help ensure rapid testing is available to schools, long-term care facilities, jails, homeless shelters and for seasonal workers, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer asked the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to begin distributing more than 300,000 test kits to schools and other priority groups this week.
These large-scale shipments are being made to get every test kit the state has available out during the omicron surge.
“Tests are critical in keeping Michiganders safe and controlling the spread of COVID-19,” Whitmer said. “… I applaud (the MDHHS) efforts, and I encourage Michiganders to get their vaccine and booster shots, which remain the best way to keep yourself and your family safe.”
The public can also request free at-home tests through a federal government partnership with the United States Postal Service at COVIDtests.gov.
Due to increased demand across the nation for these tests and increasing cases of COVID-19 spurred by the omicron variant, MDHHS is working to purchase as many test kits as possible. In November 2021, MDHHS launched the MI Backpack Home Tests program to provide free, at-home COVID antigen tests to parents, students and staff. Nearly 175,000 tests have been provided through this program to date.
“Antigen and over-the-counter tests allow Michiganders to very quickly determine if they are positive for the virus and take actions to isolate and seek treatment if needed,” MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel said.
Demand for these tests have grown over recent months with nearly 700,000 tests shipped out in the first two weeks of January 2022 and over 1 million tests to be distributed this month alone. January 2022 will represent the largest distribution of tests in a single month from the MDHHS program.
Since October 2020, more than 7.1 million antigen and over the counter COVID-19 tests have been distributed to provide testing for some of the state’s most vulnerable residents.
The general public has numerous options for accessing COVID-19 testing such as identification of MDHHS supported community popup testing sites, which include testing at welcome centers and airports in addition to 22 neighborhood testing sites across the state. These locations have also performed a record number of tests in the month of January.
The latest information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus. To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine, visit Michigan.gov/COVIDVaccine.
