By Kathy Brown.
(Jan. 2, 2022) — Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. a Haddam Town Alert was released that stated, “The town of Haddam has received a very limited number of at-home COVID test kits and will be distributing them on Sunday, January 2 starting at 1:00 p.m. The point of distribution will be the Haddam Killingworth High School, 95 Little City Road. We will be able to provide two (2) kits and N95 masks per household on a first-come basis. Because of the limited number of tests available, the Department of Public Health has asked that kits be prioritized to those individuals who are considered as high-risk individuals, those showing symptoms, or those who have had close contact to someone who has tested COVID positive.”
Haddam resident, Ed Munster, was in the 6th car to arrive at HKHS at 10:45 a.m. this morning. “Cars started coming in slowly at first, but at about 11:30 a.m., they started pouring in,” said Ed. “State troopers arrived and cars were put into double lines until the parking lots around the high school were full.”
First Selectman Bob McGarry and his wife, Vivienne, arrived as the vehicle lines began to grow. Vivienne handed out 3×5 cards so that people could write down their names and addresses so that residence status could be checked.
Approximately 700 test kits and 1500 masks were distributed to Haddam residents. An additional 100 test kits and 400 masks were shared with Regional School District #17, as towns were required to do.
The COVID supply scheduling problems with the state have been in the news during the last week. According to McGarry, the town was notified around 10:00 a.m. on Jan. 1 that they would be receiving the masks and kits. Town officials asked for volunteers yesterday to help with the distribution and many were happy to assist with this service.
“Kevin McManus should get the credit,” said Mr. McGarry. Kevin is Haddam’s Asst. Emergency Management Director. According to McGarry, McManus organized the distribution, and coordinated the kit and mask pick up in North Haven. “[Kevin] deserves real big applause for doing this,” said McGarry. “I am very pleased with how smoothly it went.”
There has been no communication from the state if or when the towns will be getting more kits and masks. Sign up for email alerts from the town of Haddam at haddam.org if you aren’t already on the email list.
Photo by Ed Munster.
