The four Cape Town towns—Barnstable, Dennis, Eastham, and Orleans—are one of 102 communities in Massachusetts that receive free COVID-19 rapid test kits as a Baker-Boy Part of the Lito government’s efforts to stop the spread of the coronavirus this holiday season.

Governor Charlie Baker said on Monday that starting from Tuesday, 2.1 million test kits will be distributed to selected cities because these cities have the largest number of poor families.

Baker said at the press conference: "Like vaccines, these rapid home tests may be a game changer because we will continue to fight COVID in the Commonwealth."

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He said that state officials chose communities with the highest percentage of families living below the poverty line to provide free test kits because the price of these kits prevents low-income people from buying them.

"They are not cheap," Baker said. "In many cases, for many people, the biggest problem is cost and supply, which have been the main obstacles."

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The price of home antigen testing purchased at a pharmacy or online ranges from $10 to $30. The antigen test can detect the presence of proteins from the COVID-19 virus. 

Governor Karyn Polito said that she and Marylou Sudders, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Health and Human Services, told local city officials on Monday morning that they would decide how to distribute the test kits.

"They know their community best," Polito said.

State officials are working with test kit manufacturers to conduct home tests at batch prices and pass the savings on to Massachusetts cities and towns.

"This is just the beginning," Polito said. "As the governor mentioned, we are finalizing a statewide plan where cities and towns will be able to purchase test kits at lower prices negotiated by the state."

Polito said: "This will enable them to continue their efforts to get these test kits into the hands of residents, especially those who may not be able to afford it."

Municipalities can use the U.S. Rescue Program Act of 2021 and other federal pandemic funds to purchase home kits.

Baker said that members of the Massachusetts National Guard and the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency will begin distributing free test kits on Tuesday and continue to distribute them over the next four to five days.

With Christmas and New Year’s Eve approaching, Baker recommends that people use these kits before gatherings with people outside of their families.

Sudders said the iHealth Rapid Result Antigen Test, distributed by the state, ranks in the top 90% in terms of accuracy and is available to people 2 years of age and older.

She said that people who test positive in the rapid test kit at home should be quarantined for 10 days and close contacts they may have been in contact with should be notified.

Sudders said residents can also choose to use a digital exposure notification tool called MassNotify to let people alert others who may have been exposed to COVID-19.

Baker asked all Massachusetts residents 16 years and older to consider booster injections.

"This is the most selfless gift given to protect yourself, your family, and your community," said Thadder.

Contact Cynthia McCormick at cmccormick@capecodonline.com. Follow her on Twitter: Cmccormickcct.