Monday, December 20, 2021

Mayor Bowser and DC Health Order One Million Rapid Antigen Tests, Launch Test Yourself Express Program

(Washington, DC) – Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced the District’s COVID-19 Action Plan, including the declaration of a public emergency; the expansion of testing, including new Test Yourself DC sites, the launch of the new Test Yourself Express Program, and the use of rapid tests for students and staff as they return from winter break; reinstating of the indoor mask mandate; implementation of a DC government vaccine mandate to include boosters; and the creation of COVID-19 Testing and Vaccination sites.

Expanded Testing

DC Health is expanding the availability of PCR tests. In addition, to the eight firehouse testing sites and the existing 27 Test Yourself DC pick-up and drop-off sites, the District is adding nine new sites to pick up and drop off at-home PCR tests – for a total of 36 sites.

DC Health has also ordered 1,050,000 rapid antigen tests — 150,000 BinaxNOW and 900,000 iHealth Antigen tests. Of those tests, 42,000 are currently on-hand and 200,000 Antigen tests are in transit to Washington, DC.

The Test Yourself Express program will provide residents with free at-home rapid Antigen COVID-19 tests. Beginning Wednesday, December 22, the rapid antigen COVID-19 tests will be available at eight District libraries, six days a week. District residents will be able to access a maximum of two kits per day, and proof of DC residency will be required, (e.g., a DC ID or a piece of mail with a DC address) to get a test.

After using a rapid at-home test, residents should report their results to DC Health at coronavirus.dc.gov/overthecounter.

The following locations will be Test Yourself Express sites beginning Wednesday, December 22:

Indoor Mask Mandate
The Mayor also announced that beginning Tuesday, December 21 at 6 am, the indoor mask mandate will be reinstated until January 31, 2022 at 6 am.

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