Distribution of free home COVID-19 test kits began 45 minutes earlier than scheduled after people began lining up early Wednesday outside Youngstown’s Covelli Centre.

The Youngstown Health Department wasn’t scheduled to begin distribution until 8 a.m.  However, cars got in line early and by 6 a.m. traffic was across the Market Street Bridge into the South Side.

Youngstown Health Commissioner Erin Bishop told 21 News that distribution began at 7:15 a.m.

After another 15,000 new COVID-19 cases were reported by the Ohio Department of Health on Tuesday, the Youngstown City Health District is planning to give away 4,000 at-home tests.

People in the first 1,000 vehicles can receive two free tests. The tests will be handed out until the Health District runs out.

You do not have to be a Mahoning County or Youngstown resident to receive a kit.

Each box contains a BinaxNOW COVID-19 self-test kit, with each box containing two tests. BinaxNOW tests have been approved by the FDA for emergency use. They also have a 91.7% accuracy for positive test samples and 100% accuracy for negative results, according to the FDA.

Mahoning County has reported 366 new cases of COVID-19 since Christmas Day. Trumbull County saw 264 new cases in the same timeframe while Columbiana County had 109 confirmed positives.

Youngstown Health Commissioner Erin Bishop said that test giveaways will continue and that the Health District expects another shipment of kits to come by the end of this week.

“Our next giveaway will probably be later in the evening,” said Bishop. “That way people who work during the day can come and get a free test kit.”

Bishop added that the city gave some leftover kits to local institutions like churches. She said the elderly and anyone who cannot drive should check with groups they belong to so they can find free test kits.

Incoming traffic for Wednesday’s giveaway must enter the Covelli Centre lot on Front Street via the Market Street Bridge. No vehicles will be permitted to enter the lot via the South Avenue Bridge.