Burlington County says it has resumed its at-home COVID-19 testing program after having to suspend it due to unused kits.

The county initially launched the test in the fall.

"We were alarmed when we saw over 800 people who got a link, which generates a charge to the county, who never used them," says Dr. Herb Conaway, director of the Burlington County Health Department.

Conaway says hundreds of people registered for a kit, and then never followed through. Others even went a step further.

"We have the other set of people, also in the hundreds, who actually received the kit and have not used them," Conaway explains.

The mail-in kits, which are free to residents and those who work in the county, are not cheap.

"From start to finish it's over $130. If the kit is not returned, then it's still a $32 cost to the county," Conaway explains.

The county says they were able to recoup some of the money for the unused links and tests, and have relaunched the program with a 72-hour window with hopes residents take it more seriously.

"We expect that a number of those kits, some 800 or most that are out, will be used over the coming holidays, but if they're not, we're going to have to take action to recover at least money related to those kits as well," says Dr. Herb Conaway, director of the Burlington County Health Department.

The at-home tests are free, but officials ask residents to provide insurance if they have it.