Clarkston City Hall. Photo by Dean Hesse.
By Zoe Seiler
The city of Clarkston is hosting its first COVID-19 test kit distribution event after allocating $100,000 to give tests to the community. The first 100 tests will be given to seniors on Friday, Jan. 21, from noon to 2 p.m. at the Starnes Senior Residences.
Currently, the city is receiving the at-home COVID-19 tests on a rolling basis from distributors due to a high demand, Clarkston Interim City Manager Shawanna Qawiy said.
“City leaders are aware that the older population is the age group that has been hit the hardest with challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic and need preventative measures in place now,” she said. “City leaders believe that better access to protective face coverings and testing would offer a great benefit to our community. We plan to have masks and hand sanitizer available with the tests.”
As the city receives the tests, staff will continue to plan and coordinate additional distribution events with its healthcare and community partners.
At the Jan. 11 Clarkston City Council meeting, the council members allocated $100,000 to purchase about 8,000 COVID-19 test kits to distribute to the community. The tests will be paid for with funding from the American Rescue Plan. There will be two tests in each box.
“We wanted to make sure we had it available for pretty much every household in Clarkston,” Mayor Beverly Burks previously said. “We wanted to increase the amount, so everyone could have access to it.”
The City Council also discussed the proposal at its Jan. 4 meeting.
Read the original story on TuckerObserver.com.
