Westchester County’s Department of Emergency Services distributed 18,560 COVID-19 Test Kits to member libraries of the Westchester Library System for their patrons. The disbursement is part of an ongoing, proactive effort by the County to make testing accessible to Westchester residents.
Westchester County Executive George Latimer said: “The Westchester Library System is a trusted institution providing education and support to local residents. As a familiar community space, this partnership with our local libraries, will serve as another resource for testing. Continuing to manage this pandemic will take all of us working together.”
Westchester County Department of Emergency Services Commissioner Richard Wishnie said: “The Department of Emergency Services (DES) has received additional COVID-19 Test Kits from New York State. County Executive Latimer has requested we continue to distribute these test kits to local organizations that can readily make them easily accessible to County residents. The goal is to keep County residents as safe as possible and to minimize the spread of COVID-19. To date, DES has distributed 157,060 test kits throughout the County.”
Westchester Library System Chief Financial Officer Rob Caluori, Jr. said: “Our libraries are an essential resource and patrons are back, taking advantage of programs and activities. When they do visit, we want to make sure our patrons remain healthy so they can enjoy everything our County libraries have to offer.”
All 38 member libraries were offered COVID-19 Test Kits. The following 26 libraries requested and will be receiving COVID-19 Test Kits: Ardsley Public Library, Bedford Hills Free Library, Bedford Free Library, Bronxville Public Library, Chappaqua Library, Dobbs Ferry Public Library, Eastchester Public Library, Hendrick Hudson Free Library (Montrose), Irvington Public Library, Larchmont Public Library, Lewisboro Library, Mamaroneck Public Library District, Mt. Kisco Public Library, North Castle Public Library & North White Plains Branch Library, The Field Library (Peekskill), Town of Pelham Public Library, Port Chester - Rye Brook Public Library, Pound Ridge Library, Purchase Free Library, Rye Free Reading Room, Scarsdale Public Library, Somers Library, Tuckahoe Public Library, Warner Library (Tarrytown), Yonkers Public Library, John C. Hart Memorial Library (Yorktown).
Westchester County’s allotment of COVID-19 Test Kits came from New York State and have also been distributed to housing authorities, child care centers, community health centers, police departments, fire departments, EMS agencies, senior centers, Chambers of Commerce, hotels, restaurants, food pantries, homeless shelters local municipalities, Department of Public Works facilities, non-profit organizations and houses of worship.