Create a testing program that prioritizes equity
Widespread testing for COVID-19 can help stop the spread, because it allows people who are infected to isolate sooner and start treatment earlier. Effective communication and planning is essential to ensure your testing program reaches refugee, immigrant and migrant communities in your area.
Conversation Guide: COVID-19 Testing
Even if you are vaccinated, you can get infected with COVID-19 and may not know it because you may not feel sick at all. By getting tested and staying away from others until you know the results, you can help stop the spread of COVID-19 and protect your community.
Get the Facts: COVID-19 Tests
People are getting tested regardless of whether they are vaccinated and regardless of whether they feel sick because it makes our communities safer. Anyone can get tested, including adults, children and babies. Learn more in our fact sheet, currently in English with translations on the way.
BinaxNOW Rapid Antigen Test
- HOW TO: A Guide for the BinaxNOW™ COVID-19 Self Test (Abbott) (Video)
- How to do the BinaxNOW COVID-19 test (Vermont Language Justice Project) (Video)
- How to do an At-Home COVID test (Dia de La Mujer Latina) (Video)
- How to do a COVID-19 Self-Test (Public Health – Seattle & King County) (Video)
iHealth Rapid Antigen Test
- How to use the iHealth COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test (iHealth) (Video)
- How to use an iHealth Covid-19 Antigen Rapid Test (Vermont Language Justice Project) (Video)
- COVID-19 Self-Test Instructions (Massachusetts Dept of Public Health) (Full Color Poster)
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- COVID-19 Self-Test Instructions (Massachusetts Dept of Public Health) (Grayscale Poster)
- English | Arabic | French | Haitian Creole | Japanese | Polish | Portuguese | Russian | Simplified Chinese | Spanish | Vietnamese
QuickVUE Rapid Antigen Test
- QUICKVUE rapid antigen self test. How to do it. (Vermont Language Justice Project) (Video)
- How to take a QuickVue At-Home COVID-19 Test (University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences) (Video)
- How to Do a COVID-19 Test: Using QuickVue At-Home OTC COVID-19 Test (AAPCHO) (Fact Sheet)
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Roche Rapid Antigen Test
Promising Practices are strategies, approaches, or programs that have anecdotally shown to have a positive impact in some local settings, however, there is not yet enough research-based evidence to certify as a best practice.
Community-Based Testing Sites and CLIA Waiver
Refugee, immigrant, and migrant (RIM) community members have experienced significant obstacles to accessing consistent and free COVID-testing. Testing is a critical tool in the mitigation of COVID-19, particularly during surges. Having free testing sites that are readily accessible to RIM communities and that feature bilingual/bicultural information and staff allows the community to feel at ease and addresses barriers faced by those disproportionately impacted by COVID.
Embedding Equity throughout the COVID-19 Response Organizational Structure
It is essential to integrate considerations for refugee, immigrant, and migrant communities into all aspects of public health response efforts. Read more about the Minnesota Department of Health’s work to embed equity throughout the COVID-19 response organizational structure.
Community Health Workers
Community health workers are deeply rooted in their communities, often members of the community themselves, and are uniquely positioned to partner with health departments and other organizations in COVID-19 response.
Partnership with Federally Qualified Health Centers Serving RIM Communities
FQHCs are often deeply rooted in their communities and are uniquely positioned as a partner for local health departments to reach refugee, immigrant, and migrant communities.
Bringing COVID-19 Testing Services Directly to Communities
Bringing testing services to RIM communities is a promising practice to ensure culturally and linguistically appropriate access to COVID-19 testing services, reduce stigma surrounding testing, and build trust between RIM community members and their local healthcare and medical systems.
Translated Materials Library (NRC-RIM)
A growing collection of publicly available health communications materials related to COVID-19 exist in multiple languages. Select "Testing" in the drop-down list labeled "Topics" to find material most relevant to CICT.
Guidance for Health Departments about COVID-19 Testing in the Community (CDC)
This guidance from the CDC reviews consideration and current CDC recommendations regarding COVID-19 testing strategies including expanded screening testing and broad-based testing.
Guide for Equitable COVID Testing (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment)
The purpose of these guidelines from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is to ensure communities most impacted by this pandemic receive the testing resources needed to stay safe and save lives. In addition to the moral imperative, these testing strategies help prevent COVID-19 from spreading, thus keeping all of us safer.