(WWJ) - Roughly 175,000 free at-home COVID-19 tests will soon become available to Michiganders in vulnerable communities thanks to a new state project.
Officials from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services have partnered with the Rockefeller Foundation to bring access to rapid COVID tests in underserved areas state via mail, according to a press release.
The Rockefeller Foundation announced it had invested $7.45 million to launch Project ACT which aims to lower the cost of COVID tests for state health departments to distribute -- Michigan is one of six states participating in the program along with iHealth Labs, Amazon and Care Evolution.
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"Testing is an important tool to limit the spread of the virus and at-home tests allow individuals to very quickly determine if they are positive for the virus and take actions to isolate and seek treatment if needed," MDHHS Direction Elizabeth Hertel said.
"I urge Michiganders to order their tests today in addition to getting the safe and effective Covid-19 vaccine and their booster dose when eligible, as the vaccine is our best defense against the virus.”
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Eligibility will be determined through zip codes with the highest risk of COVID-19. Michigan officials will further select communities using state data and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Social Vulnerability Index.
At-risk residents will be able to order one free kit which will include five COVID test stating Jan. 28 through the Project ACT website. Health officials said kits will be delivered one to two weeks after ordering.
Ordering is currently limited to one per household, but the program hopes to expand on its partners to provide multiple orders and involve more state health departments and businesses in the future
To order your free COVID tests, please visit Project ACT.
For more information about COVID in Michigan, please visit Michigan.gov.