Chamber officials said they received 180 kits, each containing 40 BinaxNow tests, for a total 7,200 rapid tests that yield results in 15 minutes. The chamber also received 7,200 masks to distribute with the kits.
This initiative, the COVID-19 Small Business Rapid Testing Program, began in December and was spearheaded by Gov. Greg Abbott and the Texas Division of Emergency Management. TDEM has since expanded this program, according to a Jan. 22 news release, and has dedicated 1 million rapid tests for chambers of commerce across the state to distribute to small businesses.
Several chambers across the state had already participated in the December pilot program and were familiar with the concept when TDEM reached out, according to Frisco Chamber President and CEO Tony Felker.
“When it rolled out to all chambers, we absolutely wanted to get involved to help our business community stay safe and continue to recover,” Felker said in a written statement. “This is just one more opportunity to work with our partners, local and statewide, to protect and promote our local business communities.”
Felker said the chamber had a similar opportunity to help the city of Frisco distribute non-contact infrared thermometers to local businesses, and that was enthusiastically received.
How businesses can get test kits
Chamber officials said they will continue to distribute kits while supplies last. Interested businesses must fill out a form at www.friscochamber.com/coronavirus.
Once information is received, chamber officials said they will qualify the business. One employee from the organization must take an online training course and pass a test to be certified as a test administrator for employees within their organization.
This certificate must be provided to the chamber before businesses are allowed to pick up the kits.
Businesses can receive as many test kits as needed, according to the chamber. The kits each contain 40 tests and one bottle of solution and cannot be broken into different quantities. One qualification, according to the chamber, is that a business must be able to administer all of the tests they receive by the end of May.
