Sunita Somvanshi
American households can order four free at-home COVID-19 tests through COVIDTests.gov starting September 26, 2023.
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The U.S. Postal Service will begin shipping the tests during the week of September 30, with deliveries expected to arrive in early October.
Dawn O’Connell, Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, notes that COVID-19 cases typically increase in the fall and winter seasons.
The tests are designed to detect current variants, including KP.3.1.1, which now accounts for over 50% of U.S. infections.
The FDA recommends taking at least three tests, spaced 48 hours apart, if you have been exposed to COVID-19 but are symptom-free.
Accessible COVID-19 test kits are available for people with disabilities, which can be ordered through ACL.gov/AccessibleTests.
Many older COVID-19 test kits have extended expiration dates—check your kit's lot number against the FDA's updated list of expiration extensions.
Additional free or low-cost testing options are available through local health departments, community health centers, and some workplaces.
CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen emphasizes the importance of staying vigilant by using vaccines, testing, and treatments to reduce COVID-19 risks, particularly during fall and winter.
Free COVID-19 tests are part of a broader strategy to curb a potential rise in infections during the upcoming fall and winter seasons.
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