A press release from Tulare County Health and Human Services
In an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19, Tulare County Public Health and the Tulare County Fire Department are teaming up to provide at-home COVID test kits for children returning to school from winter break. Beginning January 5, at-home rapid COVID test kits will be available at various county fire stations, free of charge. COVID-19 continues to rapidly spread in Tulare County, and officials want to ensure that students are returning to school safely and COVID-free. The COVID test kits will be available for pick-up while supplies last.
“We encourage parents to utilize these free rapid testing kits prior to their children returning to school and recommend all children be tested for COVID-19 the day before school starts,” stated Dr. Karen Haught, Tulare County Public Health Officer. “Persons who test positive for COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status, should not return to in-person learning until they have completed their quarantine period and are no longer infectious.”
Both the Omicron and Delta variants are present and circulating in Tulare County. These COVID variants are very contagious, which is why it is important that everyone continue all safety measures, including getting vaccinated, getting a booster vaccine, wearing a face covering or mask while in any public indoor setting, staying home when ill, and frequent hand washing. Regular testing is also beneficial to detect asymptomatic infections and determine if a person experiencing symptoms is infected with the COVID-19 virus.
COVID test kits for children returning to school will be available at the following locations during the hours listed:
Lindsay Fire Station
19603 Ave. 228, Lindsay
8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Strathmore Fire Station
22908 Ave. 196, Strathmore
8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Porterville West Olive Fire Station
22315 Ave. 152, Porterville
8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Doyle Colony Fire Station
1551 E. Success Dr., Porterville
8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Terra Bella Fire Station
23658 Ave. 95, Terra Bella
8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Springville Fire Station
35659 Hwy. 190, Springville
8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Visalia Fire Station
25456 Rd. 140, Visalia
8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Kings River Fire Station
3811 Ave. 400, Kingsburg
8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Dinuba Fire Station
40404 Rd. 80, Dinuba
8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Cutler-Orosi Fire Station
40779 Rd. 128, Cutler
8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Goshen Fire Station
30901 Rd. 67, Visalia
8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Ivanhoe Fire Station
32868 Hawthorne Rd., Ivanhoe
8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Exeter Fire Station
137 N. F Street, Exeter
8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Lemon Cove Fire Station
32490 Hwy.198, Lemon Cove
8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Three Rivers Fire Station
41412 South Fork Dr., Three Rivers
8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Alpaugh Fire Station
3939 Ave. 54, Alpaugh
8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Richgrove Fire Station
20890 Grove Drive, Richgrove
8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Tulare Fire Station
2082 Foster Drive, Tulare
8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Tipton Fire Station
241 S. Graham Rd., Tipton
8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Pixley Fire Station
200 N. Park Drive, Pixley
8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Earlimart Fire Station
808 E. Washington, Earlimart
8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Could they make the Visalia distribution point any more inconvenient? No one with kids going to city schools will drive clear out there to obtain a test kit.