The state of Rhode Island is offering its residents free, rapid COVID-19 tests, but Connecticut has been able to offer them only in Fairfield County, which has been the epicenter of the state’s outbreak.
Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said he spoke with executives at Abbott ID Now last week and they are “rolling out the testing in Fairfield County.”
Lamont told WICC 660’s Lisa Wexler Monday that they’ve done thousands of those 15-minute tests, mostly on healthcare workers and first responders.
“We’re rolling out the 15-minute tests fast,” Lamont said.
However, he was unable to say if the rapid tests would be available across the state.
Rhode Island and Georgia are partnering with CVS Health to administer the tests at the pharmacy’s MinuteClinics.
The Abbott ID NOW™ COVID-19 test is the fastest available molecular point-of-care test, according to its website. The test can deliver positive results in as little as five minutes and negative results in as little as 13 minutes.
Abbott began distributing the tests on March 31. Between then and April 3, they shipped more than 190,000 rapid tests to customers in 21 states. Abbott is now producing 50,000 tests per day.
Abbott’s test runs on a device called the ID NOW, which doctor’s offices and urgent-care clinics use to run quick flu tests.
The company also is working on a testing device that can run 470 tests a day and give results in about 6.5 hours.
