All gone in seven minutes.
The Island Library distributed 480 at-home coronavirus test kits Jan. 5 to about 120 people.
The test kits, provided by the Florida Department of Health and distributed by Manatee County, were available for free on a first-come, first-served basis, with each person in line limited to four tests. Manatee County library locations — the central library and the branches — distributed 7,500 tests.
An estimated 500 people waited outside the Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, for the noon opening but only about 120 people received tests, according to library staff.
Ron Labeau of Indianapolis arrived at 10:30 a.m., 90 minutes before the library opened, and took home four kits.
“There’s four of us in the family and I want to make sure everyone’s protected even though we’ve had our shots. There’s just none left at any of the pharmacies,” he said.
Holmes Beach Commissioner Kim Rash was among those who arrived early to the library. He received four test kits and gave away three.
“I didn’t want to be greedy. So I gave them out to folks who needed them. It was only 120 people who got them and more folks behind us in line than in front of us,” Rash said.
Branch supervisor Aileen Valdes and assistant supervisor Callie Hutchison stood outside the library entrance distributing the tests.
“We did get the smallest batch of all the libraries. All of them are out at this point. Hopefully we can get some more tests but we don’t know anything yet,” Valdes told The Islander. “Most of the folks were kind and considerate. We want to do what we can,” she said.
Manatee County provided recommendations for people using the tests:
- The self-tests are one of many risk-reduction measures, along with vaccination, masking and physical distancing.
- People who test positive should isolate and inform their health care provider, as well as any close contacts.
- People should consider using a self-test before taking part in indoor gatherings.
- With a positive self-test, a person should stay home or isolate, wear a mask if in contact with others and avoid indoor gatherings.
- A negative self-test result means the test did not detect the virus and a person may not have an infection, but the result does not rule out infection. Repeating the test within at least 24 hours, can increase confidence that a person is not infected.