Eastham and Yarmouth town officials said they will begin distributing free, at-home COVID-19 testing kits to qualified individuals today.

The town of Eastham will distribute the iHealth test kits from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the health department building next to the Eastham Fire Station at 2500 State Highway (Route 6), at the Eastham Fire Station and at the Eastham Police Department at 2550 State Highway.

The kits will be distributed while supplies last, according to the Eastham town website (eastham-ma.gov/home/news/free-covid-19-test-kit-distribution).

Eastham Town Health Director Jane Crowley said the town is receiving 810 kits containing two tests each as part of the Baker-Polito administration's distributions of 2.1 million free, at-home test kits to 102 Massachusetts communities.

More:'Potentially a game-changer': Free COVID at-home test kits available in four Cape towns

Gov. Charlie Baker announced Dec. 13 the tests were intended to help defray expenses for people living in communities the state has identified as having the highest number of families living in poverty.

The other towns on the Cape getting the free at-home test kits are Barnstable, Dennis and Orleans.

A person answering the phone Friday at the Barnstable Health Department said information about test kit distribution would be posted on the town’s website (town.barnstable.ma.us).

Officials from Dennis did not respond Friday to requests for information on test distribution.

Orleans Health Agent Alexandra Fitch said a limited number of test kits will be handed out from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Wednesday at the Orleans Department of Public Works at 40 Giddiah Hill Road. Other kits will be distributed to agencies in town serving families with high need or financial hardship, she said.

Yarmouth is not part of the state’s free, at-home test distribution program announced by Baker, but town officials said they are using Community Development Block Grant money from the COVID-19 Economic Relief Act to purchase 500 kits — containing 100 tests — to be distributed to low- and moderate-income town residents.

CDBG coordinator Mary Wayan said she and Yarmouth Town Health Director Bruce Murphy “were inspired by the governor’s program to inspire people to test before the holidays.” 

The kits will be distributed starting at 9 a.m. today at Yarmouth Town Hall, at 1146 Route 28 in South Yarmouth, and the Yarmouth Senior Center, at 528 Forest Road in West Yarmouth, on a first-come, first-served basis.

The income limitations to receive a test kit in Yarmouth are as follows:

Income no higher than $54,450 for a one-person household; $62,200 for a two-person household; $70,000 for a three-person household; $77,750 for a four-person household; $84,000 for a five-person household; and $90,200 for a six-person household.

Waygan said she expected more test kits to be available after the new year.

Baker-Polito administration officials said they are working with at-home test kit manufacturers to purchase kits in bulk and pass the savings on to all Massachusetts cities and municipalities in early 2022.

Eastham officials also emphasized that the goal of the free, at-home test kit distribution is to increase access for individuals and families with high need or financial hardship.

The Eastham website states that people should bring proof of residency to pick up the tests. A single individual may pick up test kits for a household with the proviso that test kits are limited to one kit and two tests per two-person household, and two kits containing four tests for larger households.

She asked people to bring proof of residence such as a driver’s license, tax, water or utility bill or lease agreement and to wear a mask.

Eastham residents can go to the town website to get a COVID test kit request form.