Americans can again order 4 free at-home COVID tests from the federal government

Americans can again order free at-home COVID-19 tests from the federal government starting Thursday ahead of the upcoming respiratory virus season.

This is the third year in a row that the Biden-Harris administration has allowed Americans to order over-the-counter tests for free.

Anyone who would like to order tests can do so at COVID.gov/tests. Four tests will be shipped free by USPS starting September 30th.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) first announced last month that it was resuming its free COVID testing program.

“This fall, as families begin to move into their homes and spend time with their loved ones, whether very old or very young, they will again have the opportunity to order and receive up to four new COVID-19 tests free of charge to their homes,” Dawn O'Connell, assistant secretary for preparedness and response at HHS, said during a media briefing at the time. “These tests will help protect families and their loved ones this fall and winter seasons.”

She added that the tests will be able to detect infections from variants currently circulating.

Currently, KP.3.1.1, an offshoot of the Omicron variant, is the dominant variant in the United States, accounting for an estimated 52.7% of cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

During the same media briefing, CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen said immunity from vaccination and prior COVID infection have helped limit the burden of COVID on the healthcare system.

“I want to acknowledge that we continue to see a lot of COVID-19 activity across the country right now in tests coming back from labs,” Cohen said, adding, “The spread of COVID illness is not driving a similar increase in visits in the emergency room.” and hospitalizations or deaths.”