In a much-needed move to curb the rising cases of Covid-19 in the United States, the Biden administration announced its plan to resume offering free at-home Covid-19 tests to American households starting in late September. This initiative comes at a time when the virus has gained a stronger foothold in the U.S. during the summer months. Through COVIDtests.gov, Americans will soon be able to request up to four free tests to help in the detection of the Covid variants that are currently circulating.
Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at the Health and Human Services Department, Dawn O’Connell, emphasized the importance of these free tests in keeping families and their loved ones safe during the upcoming fall and winter season. This initiative marks the seventh time over the last three years that the Biden administration has provided families with the opportunity to access over-the-counter Covid-19 tests for free through the government’s website.
The government’s decision to relaunch the program comes at a crucial time as there has been a significant spike in Covid cases this summer. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows a “high” or “very high” level of Covid being detected in wastewater across almost every U.S. state. The reopening of the program in late September aims to coincide with an increase in travel and indoor gatherings as the fall and winter approach.
David Boucher, the director of infectious disease preparedness and response at HHS, highlighted the importance of providing Americans with free at-home Covid-19 tests as they start to travel and gather with friends and family during the upcoming holidays. These tests will play a crucial role in detecting and preventing the spread of the virus, especially as more Americans become eligible for the latest round of Covid shots from Pfizer and Moderna.
As Covid infections continue to rise, testing remains a critical tool in the fight against the virus. However, traditional lab PCR tests have become more expensive and less accessible for some Americans. The government’s initiative to provide free at-home tests aims to address these challenges and make testing more widely available to the population, thereby increasing safety and mitigating the spread of Covid-19.
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