The federal government is set to relaunch its free at-home COVID-19 testing program in September, as officials gear up for the upcoming respiratory virus season.
Dawn O’Connell, Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at the Department of Health and Human Services, announced on Friday that this will mark the seventh time the Biden-Harris administration has enabled Americans to order over-the-counter COVID-19 tests at no cost.
The exact date for when the website, COVID.gov/tests, will reopen for orders is still unclear. The site ceased accepting orders in early March.
“As families begin to spend more time indoors this fall, especially with their loved ones—both young and old—they will once again be able to order up to four new COVID-19 tests for free, delivered directly to their homes,” O’Connell stated. “These tests will help protect families and their loved ones during the fall and winter seasons.”
She also noted that these tests will be effective in detecting infections from the current circulating variants.
During the same briefing, federal officials highlighted that the recent summer increase in COVID-19 cases has not led to a significant rise in hospitalizations and deaths, unlike in previous years.
Dr. Mandy Cohen, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), emphasized that immunity from vaccination and previous COVID-19 infections has helped reduce the strain on the healthcare system.
“I want to acknowledge that we are still seeing a lot of COVID-19 activity across the country in test results from labs,” Cohen said. “However, the ongoing COVID cases are not leading to corresponding increases in emergency room visits, hospitalizations, or deaths.”
Cohen mentioned that the severity of COVID-19 is now more comparable to the flu, though it remains more dangerous.
A federal forecast for the upcoming respiratory virus season suggests that the U.S. may experience similar or slightly improved levels of peak hospitalizations when considering COVID-19, flu, and RSV together, according to Cohen.
“We know that protection decreases over time, and certain groups remain at higher risk from COVID and other viruses. It’s important to continue protecting ourselves and our loved ones,” Cohen said.
Officials also reiterated recommendations for vaccination against COVID-19, flu, and RSV ahead of the respiratory virus season.
The CDC advises that everyone aged 6 months and older, including pregnant women, should receive both the COVID-19 and flu vaccines. Cohen mentioned that it is safe to receive both vaccines simultaneously.
On Thursday, the FDA approved and granted emergency use authorization for updated COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna for the upcoming fall and winter season.
Manufacturers of COVID-19 vaccines have indicated that the updated vaccines should be available within the next week.
For RSV, vaccination is recommended for all infants younger than 8 months, infants between 8 and 18 months who are at high risk, pregnant women between 32 and 36 weeks gestation, adults aged 75 and older, and adults between 60 and 74 who are at high risk.
In addition to the tests, O’Connell noted that Paxlovid, an antiviral drug used to treat COVID-19 infections in those at risk of hospitalization, will continue to be available at no cost for individuals on Medicare, Medicaid, and those who are uninsured.
Starting in 2025 and continuing through 2028, Pfizer, the manufacturer of Paxlovid, will manage the patient assistance program for uninsured and underinsured individuals, according to O’Connell.
Moreover, Merck’s patient assistance program will continue providing Lagevrio, another antiviral used to treat COVID-19 patients at risk of hospitalization, to uninsured individuals.
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“Distributing at-home tests and ensuring access to treatments are critical components of the Biden-Harris administration’s strategy to prepare for the upcoming fall and winter respiratory season,” O’Connell said.