In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic in New York City, home test kits are displayed in a store window. (Photo: Carlo Allegri | Reuters)
The Biden administration has announced that it will resume offering free at-home Covid tests to American households on Monday due to the increasing impact of the virus across the country.
According to a statement released by the administration, Americans will be able to request four free tests through COVIDtests.gov. This online platform had been previously used to offer free test kits since January 2022, but it temporarily halted accepting orders on June 1 in order to conserve supplies.
The relaunch of the program is timely, as fall and winter are characterized by higher levels of Covid transmission. The administration reiterated that the at-home tests being distributed will be able to detect the current variants of Covid. These kits are set to be used until the end of 2023 and will include instructions on how to verify the extended expiration date.
Given the increasing number of Covid infections, testing is considered a crucial tool for protection. However, traditional lab PCR tests have become more expensive and less accessible since the U.S. government ended the public health emergency in May. This change also brought alterations in insurance coverage, potentially leaving some individuals unable to obtain free at-home tests through their plans. Nevertheless, certain local health clinics and community sites still offer free at-home tests to the public.
In addition, the Biden administration announced a $600 million investment to enhance manufacturing capacity at 12 Covid test manufacturers nationwide. The goal is to secure around 200 million tests from these companies.
Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra stated, “These critical investments will strengthen our nation’s production levels of domestic at-home COVID-19 rapid tests and help mitigate the spread of the virus.”
