Starting on Thursday, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) is to distribute free rapid COVID-19 test kits to low and medium-income households, as well as people with disabilities.
It is also to start distributing free rapid test kits for young children and elderly people today.
As the number of new COVID-19 cases have been increasing, the center would provide at-home rapid test kits to financially disadvantaged people and people with disabilities, said Centers for Disease Control Deputy Director-General Chuang Jen-hsiang (莊人祥), who is the CECC’s spokesperson.
Photo: Liao Hsueh-ju, Taipei Times
Chuang urged people to take a COVID-19 test if they display symptoms and seek medical attention if they test positive.
From Thursday to Feb. 15, a pack of four test kits would be given to financially disadvantaged people, homeless people and people with disability identification or certificates, he said.
Local governments would distribute the test kits according to their lists of eligible recipients, Chuang said, adding that about 1.8 million people are eligible.
The CECC said it expects demand for at-home test kits to rise during the Lunar New Year holiday following China’s reopening and in light of global surveillance data showing that emerging variants are becoming dominant strains in other countries.
Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Victor Wang (王必勝), who heads the CECC, said that from today until Feb. 28, a free pack of five test kits would be offered to people aged 65 or older, as well as children aged six or younger.
Family members can collect the free test kits at contracted pharmacies by presenting the eligible person’s National Health Insurance (NHI) card, the center said.
“We encourage everyone to prepare personal protective equipment and at-home test kits before the Lunar New Year holiday,” Wang said, adding that people who are not eligible for the government-funded test kits can buy test kits at contracted pharmacies through the real name-based rationing scheme, using their NHI card.
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