Households across the country are now able to once again, order up to four COVID-29 test kits at no cost.
On Thursday, Sept. 26, the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Postal Service, announced the re-opening of COVIDtests.gov, where people may order the tests.
According to a news release, since the program began in 2021, ASPR and USPS have distributed more than 900 million free tests to households nationwide.
“Reopening this popular program is the latest step by the Biden-Harris Administration to ensure that over-the-counter COVID-19 tests are available to all who want them this fall and winter,” said HHS Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response Dawn O’Connell 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.”
People are able to place orders now and tests will begin to be shipped during the week of Sept. 30. Here’s what to know about the tests and how to order in Tennessee.
How to order a free COVID test
Tests may be ordered online at COVIDTests.gov. No identification, credit/debit card or health insurance information is needed. All that is required is your name and residential address.
Every household in the United States is eligible to order up to four at-home tests. Each order includes four individual rapid antigen COVID-19 tests, which provide results in 15-30 minutes. Tests are completely free and devoid of shipping costs.
How long are at-home COVID-19 test kits good for?
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the COVID-19 tests will detect current COVID-19 variants and can be used through the end of the year.
Even if your COVID-19 test has passed its printed expiration date, you may still be able to use it as most COVID-19 at-home tests have received expiration extensions from the FDA. To see if your COVID-19 test has an expiration extension, check the list of extended expiration dates.
What’s the leading COVID-19 strain in Tennessee? Latest data for Davidson County
For the two-week period beginning on Sept. 1 and ending on Sept. 14, the COVID-19 variant KP.3.1.1 accounts for more than half of positive infections in Tennessee, as well as Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, and South Carolina, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
During the week of Sept. 15, the Tennessee Department of Health reported 169 new cases of COVID-19 in Davidson County. Although cases have been on the decline since August, Davidson County has reported 24.1 new cases per day for the week of Sept. 15.
Diana Leyva covers trending news and service journalism for The Tennessean. Contact her at Dleyva@gannett.com or follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @_leyvadiana
