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

Ahead of the upcoming respiratory virus season, Americans will once again be able to order free at-home COVID-19 tests from the federal government starting Thursday.

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. Starting September 30, four tests will be shipped free of charge by USPS.

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

“As families move back into their homes this fall and spend time with their loved ones, whether very old or very young, they will once again have the opportunity to order up to four new COVID-19 tests at no cost and have them shipped directly to their homes,” Dawn O'Connell, HHS Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, said at the time during a press conference. “These tests will help keep families and their loved ones safe this fall and winter season.”

She added that the tests will be able to detect infections with variants currently in circulation.

Currently, KP.3.1.1, an offshoot of the omicron variant, is the predominant 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 press conference, CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen said immunity from vaccination and previous COVID infections have helped limit the burden of COVID on the health care system.

“I want to acknowledge that right now we continue to see high levels of COVID-19 activity in tests coming back from labs across the country,” Cohen said, adding, “Circulating COVID disease is not leading to a comparable increase in emergency department visits and hospitalizations or deaths.”