Fall is here, and while that brings Halloween, changing leaves, and breezier weather, it also means protecting yourself against COVID-19. It’s that time again, and you may consider getting you and your family updated COVID vaccines — including the new Novavax vaccine. But one of the most important things you can have in your arsenal is a series of test kits to know whether you’re sick or not. And good news: the federal government has started sending at-home COVID tests again. Using the COVIDTests.gov website, US households can once again order four free at-home COVID test kits. The government opened the ordering system on Sept. 26.
Beyond the free tests from USPS, there are still a few different ways to get free testing for COVID-19. Read on to find out the ways you can still get free COVID testing, as well as how to get free COVID treatments. For more, learn the best time to get a flu shot and how to tell whether your symptoms are COVID-19, flu or just allergies.
In January 2022, President Joe Biden announced the launch of CovidTests.gov, a website where households could order four free rapid antigen COVID-19 tests shipped by the Postal Service. The site added four more free tests in March 2022, eight more in May 2022, four more in December 2022 and four more again in September 2023. This new round of shipments also includes four COVID tests to start. It’s not certain if there will be another round of free tests this winter. Unlike some complicated government applications, ordering free tests from the Postal Service is simple. It take less than 2 minutes to complete a short form asking for your name and mailing address, and the tests should ship in about a week or two. People without internet access or those who have trouble ordering online can request tests using a toll-free phone number: 800-232-0233
It’s not clear exactly how long the free COVID-19 tests will last, so it’s best to get your order in as early as possible. Visit CovidTests.gov and then click on the blue button reading Order Free At-home Tests , which will take you to the ordering page. You only need to provide your name and your address to order your tests. You can also enter an email if you want to receive shipping notifications. You don’t need to provide any credit or debit card details — the tests and the shipping are free. All orders will be shipped via First Class Package Service. People who can’t access the website or who have trouble ordering online should be able to call 800-232-0233 to order their free tests. In the past, free COVID tests from USPS have arrived about two weeks after ordering. The tests are typically sent out within seven to 12 days and are delivered by USPS within one to three days after shipping. Aside from the Postal Service’s program to ship free COVID tests, you have five main avenues to find free COVID-19 testing locations across the US: HRSA health centers, Test to Treat locations, ICATT testing sites, private health insurance, and Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program. These options function similarly, but we’ll break down the specific steps to find your nearest free testing location.
Principais ideias do texto:
- Fall é a época para proteger-se contra a COVID-19 e considerar os testes de COVID.
- O governo federal está enviando testes de COVID gratuitos novamente.
- Além dos testes gratuitos do USPS, existem outras formas de obter testes gratuitos para COVID-19.