AUGUSTA — Governor Janet Mills announced Friday the launch of a new pilot project with The Rockefeller Foundation to mail 125,000 free COVID-19 tests directly to the homes of Maine people most in need, improving access to testing in vulnerable Maine communities.

Through Project Access COVID Tests (ACT), 25,000 Maine households will receive five at-home rapid tests free of charge. No payment information is required — both the tests and shipping are free to eligible residents – and the tests will be delivered through Amazon approximately one week after ordering. The tests require a quick swab inside each nostril, with results available within minutes. Any individual over the age of two can use the tests.

Maine is one of six states partnering with The Rockefeller Foundation, a New York philanthropy, on Project ACT to increase access to testing as demand remains high due to the Omicron surge. The first phase of the pilot project is underway, with states encouraging eligible residents to order COVID-19 tests through the Project ACT website for home delivery. The program is limited to one order per residential address during this first phase of the project.

Residents in approximately a quarter of all Maine ZIP codes, including Lincolnville and Islesboro, are eligible for the free tests. Eligibility is based on ZIP codes that are the most socially vulnerable in Maine, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s social vulnerability index, with additional consideration given to rural ZIP codes with low vaccination rates and limited access to testing.

Social vulnerability refers to the potential negative effects on communities caused by external stresses on human health, including disease outbreaks. The U.S. CDC’s Social Vulnerability Index uses 15 U.S. census variables to help states and local officials identify communities that may need support before, during, or after disasters, like disease outbreaks. Utilizing these metrics allows these tests to be distributed to hard-to-reach rural communities at high risk.

Project ACT is supported by a $7.45 million investment from The Rockefeller Foundation that covers the costs for iHealth COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Tests and logistics and distribution managed by Amazon and Care Evolution. The other five states participating in the pilot are Arkansas, Illinois, Michigan, New Mexico, and Ohio.

In the second phase of Project ACT, the Foundation plans to scale the program to additional states, using its public charity, RF Catalytic Capital Inc., to pool funds, drive down costs, and support the procurement of a range of test types from different manufacturers over the long term. Maine plans to continue distributing at least the same volume of home tests paid for by The Rockefeller Foundation.