Covid Test Kit Giveaway Causes Massive Binghamton Traffic Backups

Several thousand at-home Covid-19 testing kits were distributed over the course of a few hours at several sites in Broome County.

People began heading to Otsiningo Park just north of Binghamton early Wednesday morning for a drive-through distribution event.

County emergency services director Patrick Dewing said cars were arriving at the town of Dickinson park around 7:30 a.m., more than two hours before the scheduled start time.

Dewing said more than 10,000 rapid test kits were available at the sites across the county.

Broome County employees worked at a Covid test kit distribution site in Otsiningo Park on January 5, 2022. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)

Kits were distributed to nine public libraries and several senior centers. Lines formed at those sites as people sought the at-home tests which have been in short supply in recent days.

Covid-19 testing is available by appointment at the Broome County Health Department's headquarters in Binghamton and at a state-operated site at the former David College campus in Johnson City.

Health officials advise people who receive positive results from the home tests to report the information on the Broome County website to assist in the case investigation process.

Traffic backed up on Front Street in Binghamton, more than two miles from the Covid test kit distribution site. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com.

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Source: Covid Test Kit Giveaway Causes Massive Binghamton Traffic Backups

Filed Under: Broome County, COVID-19, Otsiningo Park, test kits

Categories: Articles, Local News