WASHINGTON (TND) – The U. S. government has called for the U. S. government to The U. S. Department of Health is once again offering COVID-19 for free in an attempt to preempt a potential surge in cases this winter.
Households can request another round of four at-home tests, and those who didn’t take the September offer can get up to eight starting Monday in COVDtests. gov. They will be delivered free of charge.
This is one of the last remaining tactics to relax at home once the public fitness emergency is over.
The news comes as flu season begins and there have been reports of an increase in RSV cases across the country.
Doctors also continue to urge others to get vaccinated and get an updated COVID booster.
The shots target a descendant of omicron called XBB. 1. 5, replacing older vaccines that targeted the original strain of the coronavirus and a much earlier edition of omicron. The injections are for anyone 6 months of age or older, but their absorption has been slow.
Since September, COVID-19 hospitalizations have increased steadily, although not as much as this time last year, and RSV is already present in parts of the Southeast.
Editor’s note: The Associated Press contributed to this report.