The federal government is again offering four free COVID-19 at-home tests as the U.S. enters the respiratory virus season with high levels of the virus already circulating. The test kits may be ordered now from COVIDTests.gov, with shipping by the postal service to begin on September 30.
This is the seventh time that free tests have been offered. The US Department of Health and Human Services indicates that over 900 million free tests have been delivered through the program.
“Reopening this popular program is the latest step by the administration to ensure that over-the-counter COVID-19 tests are available to all who want them this fall and winter,” HHS Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response Dawn O’Connell said in a statement. “Before you visit with your family and friends this holiday season, take a quick test and help keep them safe from COVID-19.”
If you were exposed to COVID, when should you test? If you were exposed but feel fine, you should wait a few days to test, since it can take time for the virus to build up in your body. The F.D.A. recommends that those who stay symptom-free take at least three tests total. Each time, wait 48 hours before you take another test. Take a test right away if you develop symptoms like sneezing, coughing, a sore throat, fatigue, head and body aches, nausea and vomiting. If that test is negative, take another two days later.
Persons who are blind/low vision or who have low dexterity may order special tests that have features that make them more accessible. Information on these tests is available here.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] recommends that anyone who tests positive stay home and away from others until they are fever-free for at least 24 hours.
New Vaccines are Available
Vaccines that are designed to help protect against the COVID-19 variants that are currently in circulation are available now at local pharmacies. CDC recommends that everyone age six months and above receive the vaccine.
This year, there are multiple options available; mRNA vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer were updated to target KP.2, one of the so-called FLiRT variants that have been dominant in the US since May. Those vaccines are for people 6 months and older. A more traditional protein vaccine from Novavax is also available, but it targets JN.1, a variant that is still circulating but less prominently than a few months ago. The Novavax vaccine is approved only for those ages 12 and up.
