Free At-Home Covid-19 Tests Available End of September

Free Covid-19 Tests to Be Available from US Government by Late September

The US government is set to distribute another round of free at-home Covid-19 tests starting at the end of September. As respiratory virus season approaches and Covid-19 cases continue to rise, each household will be eligible to order four free test kits through the official website, COVIDTests.gov.

Since the start of the pandemic, over 900 million test kits have been delivered to American households through the government-run program. The tests, which will be in their seventh round of distribution, are designed to detect current Covid-19 variants and are especially useful as people plan for holiday gatherings and seek to protect their loved ones.

“Covid-19 testing can help you know if you have the virus, so you can take necessary precautions,” said a spokesperson from the US Department of Health and Human Services. Testing allows individuals to decide on potential treatments and reduce the spread of the virus.

Dr. Mandy Cohen, director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), emphasized the importance of vigilance. “We must continue to use the tools we have: vaccines, testing, and treatments to reduce the risks of severe illness,” she said.

In addition to testing, the CDC strongly recommends that everyone aged 6 months and older receive an updated Covid-19 vaccine. This year’s vaccines have been tailored to combat the latest variants, including Moderna and Pfizer’s mRNA vaccines, which target the KP.2 variant, and Novavax’s traditional protein vaccine, aimed at the JN.1 variant.

The updated vaccines are now available at pharmacies nationwide and can be administered alongside the flu vaccine, providing double protection as we head into colder months.