Sandoval County Emergency Manager Theresa Greeno distributes COVID home test kits on Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022, in Bernalillo. (Matt Hollinshead/Observer)

BERNALILLO — Sandoval County Emergency Manager Theresa Greeno sees enormous good in providing free COVID-19 home test kits to the public.

Greeno said holding events like Thursday’s distribution at the Bernalillo Recreation Center will make it much easier for people to secure a COVID test if they need one. She said it’ll help that they can simply store a test kit in their medicine cabinet in the event they exhibit possible symptoms, as opposed to the time-consuming process of booking an available testing appointment that may be days out.

“I think that it’s going to make a big impact and hopefully make it a lot easier for people to test, that we can stop the spread,” Greeno said. “I know it can be frustrating to have to wait, and I think that this will help people be able to go back to school or go back to work faster if they know whether or not (they’re positive) instead of having to wait a few days for a test result.”

County workers greeted a steady flow of vehicles as they pulled up to get a test kit. Some even requested multiple test kits, something Greeno said will help ensure more test kits go out and aren’t wasted.

“One person can come and pick up for their mom and dad, and their siblings,” she said.

Roughly 4,000 free test kits were available Thursday, Greeno said. She also said there will be roughly 2,000 free kits during Saturday’s distribution event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.at the Placitas Fire Station, 463 NM 165 in Placitas.

Greeno said the county looks to continue these distribution events as long as the need is there.

“Having them readily available in people’s homes is what’s going to really help make a big difference,” she said.