Free COVID tests are on the way: Details on how and when to get them
The HHS has not specified a starting date for the program, but it’s being reinstated as COVID-19 cases and other respiratory illnesses are expected to increase.
Americans will soon have the opportunity to request free COVID-19 test kits from the government and have them sent directly to their homes.
The program, managed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), will allow each U.S. household to order up to four nasal swab tests through the website COVIDTests.gov.
HHS is reviving this initiative just as COVID-19 cases and other respiratory illnesses are predicted to rise for the season. The tests will be able to identify the current virus variants and will be accessible until the end of the year.
As of Monday, the agency has not announced a specific date for when the program will launch, but the website indicates that tests will be ready for order by the end of September.
Here’s what you need to know about obtaining the free COVID-19 tests.
How to request your free COVID-19 tests
To get your tests, go to COVIDTests.gov. Once you place your order, the tests will be sent to your home at no cost.
Each household is eligible to receive up to four tests for free.
When can you order free COVID tests?
A spokesman from the agency has not disclosed when the program will start. However, the website states that testing kits will start being available for order by the end of September.
What do these tests check for?
The tests are designed to identify the prevalent variants that are currently circulating, as stated by the CDC.
The at-home tests usually provide results in 30 minutes or less and can be used by individuals regardless of their vaccination status. Many COVID-19 tests now come with extended expiration dates.
While positive results are reliable, the HHS cautions that negative results do not automatically mean there is no COVID-19 infection. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration suggests that individuals with symptoms take two negative antigen tests or three tests if asymptomatic, spaced 48 hours apart.
CDC advises getting the updated COVID-19 vaccine
The program will kick off when COVID-19 is expected to peak in winter alongside flu and RSV cases.
Currently, the COVID-19 variant KP.3.1.1 accounts for more than half of all positive cases in the U.S., according to the latest data from the CDC.
Past infections or vaccinations may provide some immunity; however, this protection diminishes over time. The CDC recommends that everybody aged 6 months and older get the updated COVID-19 vaccine, regardless of prior vaccinations.
Contributed by: Ahjané Forbes, YSL News
