In Monday’s situation update report, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) announced at home COVID-19 testing kits for DC residents.
The rate of COVID-19 testing in DC has gone from more than 3,000 tests per day during the peak of the pandemic to under 1,500.
Approximately 8,000 testing kits will be made available each week in the District. Starting Monday April 19, residents will be able to pick up testing kits Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tests are free with no out-of-pocket costs.
Starting the week of May 3, the locations will be open for pickups Monday to Saturday between 10:00 am and 6:00 pm. The kits can be dropped off at any of the locations seven days per week before 8 p.m.
The test sample must be dropped off before 8 p.m. the day it is collected or the resident will need to provide another sample.Testing kits can be dropped off the locations no later than 8:00 pm seven days a week.
| Site | Address | Ward |
| Mt. Pleasant Library | 3160 16th Street NW, 20010 | Ward 1 |
| Georgetown Library | 3260 R Street NE, 20007 | Ward 2 |
| MLK Central Library | 901 G Street NW, 20001 | Ward 2 |
| West End Library | 2301 L Street NW, 20037 | Ward 2 |
| Chevy Chase Library | 5625 Connecticut Avenue NW, 20015 | Ward 3 |
| Cleveland Park Library | 3310 Connecticut Avenue NW, 20008 | Ward 3 |
| Tenley-Friendship Library | 4450 Wisconsin Avenue NW, 20016 | Ward 3 |
| Petworth Library | 4200 Kansas Avenue NW, 20011 | Ward 4 |
| Shepherd Park (Juanita E. Thornton) Library | 7420 Georgia Avenue NW, 20012 | Ward 4 |
| Woodridge Library | 1801 Hamlin Street NE, 20018 | Ward 5 |
| Shaw (Watha T. Daniel) Library | 1630 7th Street NW | Ward 6 |
| Benning (Dorothy I. Height) Library | 3935 Benning Road NE, 20032 | Ward 7 |
| Capitol View Library | 5001 Central Avenue SE, 20019 | Ward 7 |
| Francis A. Gregory Library | 3660 Alabama Avenue SE, 20020 | Ward 7 |
| Anacostia Library | 1800 Good Hope Road SE, 20020 | Ward 8 |
| Bellevue (William O. Lockridge) Library | 115 Atlantic Street SW, 20032 | Ward 8 |
If test samples are not delivered to drop off locations by 8:00 pm of the same day of collection and registration, individuals will be notified that their sample cannot be processed and must be re-collected. Test samples submitted via the Test Yourself DC kit will be sent to one of the District’s laboratory partners, and will take 3-5 days for results to be delivered.
The Test Yourself DC kits can be used on individuals ages 3 and up. DC Health recommends parents or guardians assist children 17 and younger. Each kit will be processed by a lab with a 3-5 day turnaround period.
For more information about Test Yourself DC, please visit testyourself.dc.gov and for other ways to get tested, visit coronavirus.dc.gov/testing.
Sarah Payne is a History and Neuroscience student at The University of Michigan interning with HillRag. She writes for and serves as an assistant news editor for Michigan’s student newspaper, The Michigan Daily. You can reach her at sarahp@hillrag.com.
