Photo: Fayetteville Public Library

With COVID-19 cases once again surging due to the highly contagious Omicron variant now circulating around the world, the demand for testing is once again outpacing supply in many areas. As a result, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson recently announced the state has purchased 1.5 million at home tests to distribute around the state to help meet that demand.

The first shipments of those tests began arriving this week, and in Fayetteville, they are now available at Fayetteville Public Library and the Washington County Health Unit.

The tests are free, and limited to one two-pack of tests per individual or three two-packs per family.

Library staff began passing out the tests in their south lot on School Avenue at 9 a.m. Wednesday morning. Demand for the tests are high, and the supply is limited, officials said. Christina Karnatz, a spokesperson for the library, said as of 10 a.m. around 250 tests remain from the initial shipment the library received, though she expects a second shipment of around 2,500 tests later today.

Washington County Health Unit also received some of the free tests, and they are available at the front counter at the facility, located at 3270 Wimberly Drive in Fayetteville.

Tests are also available at a few other locations around the region as well, including the Jones Center in Springdale, Springdale Public Library as well as other public library locations, county health units, and organizations.

A full list of locations (not including the health units) is available at the Arkansas Department of Health website.