Americans will once again be able to order free at-home COVID-19 tests from the federal government starting Thursday, ahead of the upcoming respiratory virus season.
For the third consecutive year, the Biden-Harris administration is offering over-the-counter COVID tests at no cost.
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To order, individuals can visit COVID.gov/tests, where they can request four free tests, which will be delivered by USPS starting September 30.
Last month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the return of the free COVID tests program.
“As families begin to spend more time indoors this fall with both elderly and young loved ones, they will have the chance to order up to four free COVID-19 tests, delivered directly to their homes,” stated Dawn O’Connell, Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at HHS, during a media briefing. “These tests are a key tool to help keep families safe this fall and winter.”
O’Connell added that these tests are effective at detecting the current circulating variants of COVID-19.
Currently, the KP.3.1.1 variant, a subvariant of omicron, is the most prevalent in the U.S., accounting for approximately 52.7% of cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
During the same briefing, CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen highlighted that immunity from vaccination and prior COVID-19 infections has reduced the strain on the healthcare system.
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“We are still seeing significant COVID-19 activity in lab tests across the country,” Cohen said. “However, this is not leading to corresponding increases in emergency room visits, hospitalizations, or deaths.”
