On Monday, August 1, the Guilford County Division of Public Health launched the county’s first Community Access Point (CAP) program in its war against COVID-19. The tests will be given out at various YMCA’s, libraries and county facilities among other places.

That program – which makes use of various well-known locations around the county – is designed to offer access to free, at-home COVID-19 tests for all county residents.

As part of the effort, county health officials are working directly with community- based organizations to develop “Community Access Points” – places where people can easily get at-home tests from trusted community partners.

At-home test kits are limited to four tests per person and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

In a similar widely publicized effort, the federal government has made free in- home COVID-19 tests available by mail in recent months.

Guilford County Public Health Director Dr. Iulia Vann said this week that the free tests are an important tool in the county’s continuing battle against the spread of COVID-19.

“We want to encourage all community members to take ownership of our county’s health and safety by ensuring that they have the appropriate tools and education to do so,” said the health director who got that job at almost the exact same time the pandemic hit Guilford County. “These free, COVID-19 home test kits are just one of the ways that we are working towards that goal.”

For more information on the program, locations, distribution times and access to free at-home testing, people can visit https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/home-covid-19-tests.