The Biden administration is providing $600 million in funding to produce new at-home COVID-19 tests and has reopened the website allowing Americans to again order up to four free tests per household.
This is an effort to prevent possible shortages during a rise in coronavirus cases that have typically come during colder months.
Some 12 manufacturers that employ hundreds of people in seven states have been awarded funding and will produce 200 million over-the-counter tests.
These tests will be used to refill federal stockpiles for government use and to meet demand for tests ordered online.
The tests are designed to detect COVID-19 variants currently circulating and are intended for use by the end of the year.
However, they will include instructions on how to verify extended expiration dates.
This initiative follows four previous rounds where federal officials and the U.S. Postal Service provided more than 755 million tests for free to homes nationwide.
It is also meant to complement ongoing federal efforts to provide free COVID-19 tests to long-term care facilities, schools, low-income senior housing, uninsured individuals and underserved communities.
How to order?
To order free COVID-19 tests in the US, you can go to the COVIDTests.gov website and enter your name and mailing address. You can also call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489) to place your order.
You can order up to four free tests per household. There is no limit on how many times you can order tests, but you must wait at least 90 days between orders.
The tests are shipped for free by the US Postal Service. You should receive your tests within 7-12 days of placing your order.
The COVIDTests.gov website is available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Tagalog.
