Free rapid COVID-19 tests available from Richmond and Henrico Health Districts

Rapid at-home COVID-19 tests are available free of charge from the Richmond and Henrico Health Districts, which are now distributing the tests at a number of locations and events.

Henrico residents can pick up at-home tests at any of the RHHD’s four weekly testing sites (including in Henrico at the Eastern Henrico Recreation Center, 1440 North Laburnum Avenue, Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and at the Henrico West Health Clinic, 8600 Dixon Powers Drive, Fridays from 9 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.).

Tests also are available at the agency’s weekly events at Second Baptist Church and its Cary Street clinic in Richmond, as well as at its seven resource centers in Richmond and the Richmond Public Library. For a complete list of locations offering free tests, click here.

"We hope that the increased availability of at-home tests and quicker turnaround of testing results makes testing more accessible," said RHHD Emergency Manager Jessica Coughlin. "Alongside vaccination, testing remains one of the critical tools at preventing spread of COVID-19."

RHHD officials also will be distributing test kits while out in communities performing outreach duties. In addition, the RHHD continues to offer free in-person testing at a number of locations in the two localities. View a complete list here. Test results now are available by text message for those who choose to receiv them that way, officials announced Thursday. In most cases, results will be delivered sooner that way (in about 2 days).

Local health department vaccination clinics will be closed between Dec. 24 and Jan. 2, with the exception of the Arthur Ashe Center location in Richmond, which will be closed from Dec. 23 through 27, then reopen with normal clinic hours Dec. 28 and 29 and adjusted hours Dec. 30. The site will close again Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 but reopen Jan. 2.

RHHD officials Thursday highlighted the importance of testing and vaccination in light of the new Omicron variant of the virus, which has been identified in Virginia. The variant is considered much more transmissible than earlier variants though possibly less severe, although initial data is inconclusive. Regardless, RHHD Nurse Manager Amy Popovich said, getting vaccinated helps reduce the likelihood that you’ll unknowingly pass the virus to someone who could suffer severe outcomes if infected.

“We’re still seeing that vaccines work really well to protect against not only getting COVID but getting the severe cases of COVID that would cause hospitalization and death,” Popovich said. “Many of us want to be kind in our community, many of us want to spread joy and love in our communities, and this actually is a way to do that – become fully vaccinated to really decrease the amount of spread that happens to folks you may not know or to folks you do know and love who may be more vulnerable or more susceptible to some of those really bad effects.”

To date in Henrico, more than 72% of all county residents have received at least one dose of the vaccine, while about 65% are fully vaccinated and 27% have received a booster shot. Health experts have said that the Omicron variant – which contains about 30 mutations from the initial variant of the virus – is more likely to infect people who are fully vaccinated or even boosted but that even in those cases, vaccinated people are far less likely to develop serious illness or require hospitalization than those who are unvaccinated.

In Virginia, only about 1.2% of all people who are vaccinated have later developed COVID-19, Popovich said.

In Henrico, nearly 29% of all children ages 5 to 11 have received at least one dose of the Pfizer vaccine and nearly 19% are now fully vaccinated, according to Virginia Department of Health data. Both percentages are slightly ahead of the statewide averages for that age group, which became eligible in November.

On Friday, COVID vaccination events are taking place at four Title I schools in Henrico – Glen Lea, Laburnum, Ridge and Dumbarton elementaries – Friday for children 5 and older whose parents authorized them to receive the vaccine. The events are not open to the public.
RHHD officials are imploring young people in the 18 to 29 age range to get vaccinated because their vaccination levels are the lowest but even though most of them won’t suffer sever consequences if they get the virus, they may pass it to others who will.