Where to get tested
Western CT State University. Westside Campus, 43 Lake Ave. Ext. Danbury MF 1pm-7pm Sat/Sun 10am-2pm
Calf Pasture Beach Rd. Norwalk MF 2pm-7pm Sat/Sun 9pm-1pm
Cove Park 1125 Cove Road. Stamford MF 2pm-7pm Sat/Sun 10am-3pm
Yale COVID testing sites: Doctor must order test, appointment required here
Hartford HealthCare COVID Testing Sites: Appointment Required here
List of CT Public Health Department Testing Sites here
Where to get vaccinated
Saturday, January 22 and 29 – COVID Vax Van Clinic – 1 to 5 p.m. – Redding Community Center for ages 12 and up. All vaccines and boosters available. No appointment necessary.
The availability of COVID-19 vaccines has opened up significantly at local pharmacies. To make an appointment go to: https://www.vaccines.gov/
Redding Statistics
COVID-19 numbers have continued to rise across Connecticut. The average daily rate of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population in Redding has risen in the past four weeks from 30.6 to 143.4, and the positivity rate has risen from 6.9 to 26.1 .
It is imperative to get fully vaccinated, to mask up, to move away and to stay at home in case of illness.
Home test kit availability
On January 19, 2022, the public can start ordering free home test kits through a new government website here.
Orders will be limited to 4 per residential address. Tests will ship within 7-12 days of ordering (free of shipping costs) and the lead time should shorten as the program becomes operational.
Home test kits can also be found at local pharmacies (limited supply) and online at big box stores.
People with private insurance will be able to get reimbursed for over-the-counter tests when purchased from pharmacies or retailers. There is a limit of 8 tests per month per person.
How and when to use home test kits
The CT Department of Public Health website has videos on how to use each brand of home test kit as well as helpful FAQ information. here
The best time to use a COVID home test kit is when you have symptoms or when you know you have been exposed to someone with COVID. It is not recommended to use an at-home test just for the sake of testing.
What do the results mean
A positive home test result means that the test detected a virus and you are likely to have an infection. You must stay home and self-isolate for 5 days, even if you are asymptomatic or your symptoms resolve. If symptoms persist beyond 5 days, you should continue to self-isolate until symptoms improve, continue wearing a mask 5 days beyond the 5-day isolation period, and avoid indoor gatherings. It is essential to inform all close contacts of the positive results of your test.
A negative test result means the test did not find the virus and you may not have an infection, but it does not rule out an infection. It has been found that home testing can lead to false negatives. Repeating the test in a few days, with at least 24 hours between tests, will increase confidence that you are not infected.
Self-test results do not need to be reported to the local health department; however, it cannot be overemphasized that individuals should follow up by notifying close contacts of positive results to prevent spread.
Dr. Lawrence Leibowitz
Director of Health
Doug Hartline, RS
Redding Health Officer
