Free COVID-19 Tests Now Available for Free Home Delivery
Jake Newby
| 2 min read
The United States government has made COVID-19 rapid antigen diagnostic tests available for order, just ahead of flu season.
According to the U.S Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. households will be eligible to order four free rapid tests. These at-home, over the counter tests can show if you have an active COVID infection. They detect current COVID variants and can be used through the end of 2024.
The Food and Drug Administration approved the latest round of free mail-delivered tests in August after approving two updated COVID booster shots to provide protection against the Omicron variant KP.2 strain. The KP strains have made up more than 70% of COVID-19 cases this year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Those vaccines, produced by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, are available now and recommended by the CDC for everyone age 6 months and older.
What to know about the free COVID-19 test program
The free COVID tests can be ordered on COVIDTests.gov. Once ordered, the at-home tests will be shipped to homes for free. According to the United States Postal Service, shipments begin on Sept. 30.
Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent infection from COVID and testing is crucial in limiting the spread of the virus. Data continues to show the importance of vaccination to protect against severe outcomes of COVID and the flu, including hospitalization and death. Learn more about tips to prevent infection by reading this blog.
What are COVID symptoms in 2024?
Symptoms of the new COVID variants are consistent with previous versions and include:
- Body aches
- Chills
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Runny nose
- Shortness of breath
- Sore throat
COVID cases in Michigan
Reported cases of COVID-19 continued to climb in the first week of September in Michigan after steadily increasing all summer. For the week ending on Sept.7, 2024, 4,671 cases were reported, marking the highest number of cases reported in a single week since the second week of February. Michigan did experience a slight decrease for the week ending on Sept.14, when 4,236 cases were reported.
On both August 25 and Sept. 2, 3% of the state’s emergency department and urgent care visits resulted in a COVID-19 diagnosis. That percentage also hasn’t been hit since February, according to government statistics. Between Sept. 1 and ending on Sept. 14, the KP.3.1.1 variant was the most dominant strain in the United States.
Photo credit: Getty Images
