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Health district responds to shortage of COVID-19 test kits

Rick Monroe

Special to the Village News

Test kits for COVID-19 were scarce in Fallbrook in early January as people sought ways to confirm whether they had the Omicron variant. In fact, there was some public panic when the Fallbrook Regional Health District's outreach to disburse test kits was postponed.

Wellness Center Administrator Theresa Geracitano explained that the event was cancelled because the event co-sponsor, Cal Fire, could not participate because they had too many workers with COVID 19. On top of that, some key Health District staff were out with illnesses.

"It was crazy," Geracitano admitted.

The district is now providing the free Antigen home tests for COVID-19, the administrator said.

"We're limiting this to local residents, one test per person," Geracitano said. "On Saturday, Jan. 15, we distributed 200 kits at the Wellness Center."

Another 300 to 400 kits were expected to be given on Friday, Jan. 21, at the Bonsall Community Center.

Today (Jan. 27), another large crowd is expected at the Wellness Center in the final distribution event.

The board of the Fallbrook Regional Health District approved the emergency purchases of the kits at a reasonable price, Geracitano said. She added that several agricultural businesses also received the test kits.

 

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