The U. S. government is postponing the mail-order sale of loose COVID-19 tests, at least for now.
Friday, March 8 is the last day residential families can request loose virus tests sent by the U. S. Postal Service. According to the Strategic Preparedness and Response Administration, a department of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, orders are expected to close at 11:59 p. m. PT.
“ASPR has provided more than 1. 8 billion free COVID-19 tests to the American public through COVIDTests. gov and direct distribution channels and will continue to distribute millions of tests weekly to long-term care facilities, food banks, gyms, and schools. An ASPR spokesperson said in a statement sent to The Associated Press.
Mail orders for loose government COVID tests have already been suspended or extended. Despite Friday’s suspension, there is still an option for the program to resume at a later date; the ASPR notes that it reserves the right to use COVIDTest. gov long-term if necessary.
Biden’s leadership first introduced its free mail-in COVID tests in January 2022. The plan last reopened in September last year, and families have been able to apply for the most recent testing circular since November.
The resolution of the orders for the sixth cycle of the program comes amid declining case rates at the end of the winter breathing season, the ASPR said.
Last month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that the respiratory virus season had likely passed its peak after a surge in December, though they suggested caution.