AUSTIN (WBAP/KLIF) – Texas Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Division of Emergency Management have launched a COVID-19 Rapid Testing Pilot Program for front line workers at Texas small businesses.
According to the Governor, the program will help small businesses throughout the state conduct rapid tests on employees to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
Through the pilot program, TDEM will provide local Chamber of Commerce organizations with COVID-19 testing supplies that will then allocate the supplies to local small businesses that choose to participate in the program. These small businesses can then administer these tests to employees who choose to participate. This program has been developed using the framework of theCOVID-19 Rapid Testing Pilot Program for Texas school systems, implemented by the Texas Education Agency and TDEM in October, that ensures access to rapid testing for all Texas teachers.
“This rapid testing pilot program will protect the safety of small business owners, their employees, and Texas consumers as we continue to combat COVID-19,” said Governor Abbott. “This effective strategy will help us detect and mitigate this virus while ensuring that Texas remains safely open for business. I thank the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for providing these tests and our participating Chamber of Commerce organizations for partnering with the State of Texas to help protect our communities.”
The launch of the pilot program will include Chambers of Commerce from Amarillo, Edinburg, El Paso, Laredo, and Lubbock with plans to significantly ramp up the program across the state.
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