12/22/21 update: The Health Department successfully distributed all 24,000 testing kits and the giveaway has ended. The December 23rd giveaway at Waterview Recreation Center has been canceled.

Original: One of the best ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is to get tested if you’ve been around someone who has COVID, or if you’re feeling any symptoms. However, as we get closer to Christmas, and more and more people are being exposed or feeling unwell, testing has been getting harder to find.

This is not just true in Philadelphia; testing has become much more difficult to find throughout the country due to a number of factors outside of the City’s control. There is a shortage of healthcare workers and people qualified to administer COVID tests, the labs that run these tests are extremely busy, and there is not a good, consistent supply of rapid at-home tests in stores or available.

In order to make getting tested before Christmas easier, the Health Department is distributing up to 24,000 rapid at-home test kits at our pop-up vaccine clinics during the week of December 20th.

Philadelphia residents can receive two test kits, each containing two tests. You don’t need to be vaccinated or get vaccinated to receive them, though we strongly encourage everyone to get vaccinated or receive their booster dose.

You can get these free rapid at-home test kits at the following sites: