WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans can once again order COVID-19 tests , without being charged, sent straight to their homes. The U.S.
government reopened the program on Thursday, allowing any household to order up to four at-home COVID nasal swab kits through the website, covidtests.gov . The tests will begin shipping, via the United States Postal Service, as soon as next week.
“Before you visit with your family and friends this holiday season, take a quick test and help keep them safe from COVID-19," Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response Dawn O’Connell said in a statement. The website has been reopened on the heels of a summer COVID-19 virus wave and heading into the fall and winter respiratory virus season, with health officials urging Americans to get an updated COVID-19 vaccine and their yearly flu shot. U.
S. regulators approved an updated COVID-19 vaccine that is designed to combat the recent virus strains and, they hope, forthcoming winter ones, too. Vaccine uptake is waning, however.
Most Americans have some immunity from prior infections or vaccinations, but under a quarter of U.S. adults took last fall’s COVID-19 shot.
Using the swab, people can detect current virus strains ahead of the fall and winter respiratory virus season and the holidays. Over-the-counter COVID-19 at-home tests typically cost around $11, as of last year . Insurers are no longer required to cover the cost of the tests.
If you already have COVID-19 tests at.
