Orleans will offer free rapid testing for Covid on Dec. 16

Details still need to be worked out for location, time

ALBION – Orleans County will offer free rapid Covid-19 tests on Dec. 16, Public Health Director Paul Pettit announced today during a County Legislature meeting.

County officials have been pressing the state for a free testing option in the county for several months. Right now, Orleans residents need to travel out-of-county for a free testing site.

Pettit said the limited testing in rural areas has proven a “big barrier” in helping to quickly identify who has Covid and to contain the spread.

“This has been an ongoing issue for us,” Pettit said in a meeting through Zoom video conferencing. “We continue to push and advocate for this.”

The free testing event on Dec. 16 will be for people who are asymptomatic. The time and location still needs to be worked out.

Genesee County will offer a free drive-through rapid testing for Covid on Thursday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Genesee County Emergency Management Office & Fire Training Facility, 7690 State Street Rd. in the Town of Batavia.

Pwettit said the details of the rapid testing in Orleans should be announced next week. He wants it to be a reoccurring event and not just limited to Dec. 16.

“I know this is long awaited,” he said. “Hopefully it will be a big benefit to our residents.”