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Nearly four years into the COVID-19 pandemic, finding a loose antigen test has become even more difficult.
And with COVID-19 numbers on the rise as the holidays approach (and the highest levels of respiratory viruses across the state overall, adding up RSV and flu), find out if the runny nose and sore throat are, in fact, COVID-19. He may have even more precedence in his own family recently.
A place where you can now find a loose COVID-19 check at home? Your local public library.
Many libraries around the Bay Area have a supply of antigen tests to give out to anyone who wants one — with no proof of library card or county residency required. One of those is the San Francisco Public Library system, which distributes 15,000 free tests this winter in multiple branch locations around the city. The library is not limiting how many tests a person can take.
Dolly Goyal, the library’s public administrator, says flexible testing will provide advantages to families as county schools prepare to close for the holidays. The library system, he says, needs to “make sure families get them before they spend the holidays or anywhere else. “to restrict the spread of COVID-19 in the community.
The San Francisco Public Library urges community members to take as many antigen tests as they feel they need — because those at-home kits expire early in 2024. That said, the San Francisco Public Health Department says COVID-19 tests can still be used past the expiration date.
You can check the FDA’s list of types of antigen controls to see if the shelf life of the box you have has been extended through the manufacturer. The FDA says the explanation for why the shelf life of a control has been extended is because the manufacturer has provided the company with sufficient “data showing that the shelf life is longer than known when the check was first authorized. “(In other words, you can still use this check. )
Continue reading to find out if the Bay Area County Public Library is offering free COVID-19 antigen tests this winter. And if not, here are tips on where to locate free or inexpensive COVID-19 tests near you.
(Looking for information on the best time to take a COVID-19 test if you’re experiencing symptoms? Read our guide to current COVID-19 incubation periods.)
Individual libraries may have different limits on how many COVID-19 tests you can take each time. County library systems are also often separate from city libraries — so you may wish to ask your local city library, too.
San Francisco
See above: The San Francisco Public Library is distributing COVID-19 tests at its locations across the city. Find your San Francisco Public Library branch.
Berkeley
Starting Monday, Dec. 18, Berkeley public libraries will have “a limited supply” of free COVID-19 tests at every location. Find your local Berkeley Public Library branch.
Contra Costa County
All 26 of Contra Costa County Library’s locations offer free COVID-19 tests. Find your local Contra Costa County Library branch.
Solano County
Free COVID-19 testing will be conducted at all Solano County Library locations. Find your local Solano County Library branch.
San Mateo, Sonoma, Marin and Napa counties have shown KQED that they are offering COVID-19 testing at their libraries lately.
Although the Santa Clara County Library District is not offering free COVID-19 testing lately, county citizens can get free antigen tests at any Better Health pharmacy. We will update this consultant with information about Alameda County.
Order free at-home COVID-19 tests from the U. S. government. U. S. USPS
You can reorder 4 at-home COVID-19 antigen tests at covidtests. gov or by phone at 800-232-0233.
Get reimbursed for COVID purchases through your fitness insurance
California law states that your insurer will still have to offer reimbursement for the cost of up to 8 at-home COVID-19 tests, starting Nov. 12, it may require you to purchase them “in-network. “about whether your insurer will reimburse for COVID-19 tests.
Find a COVID-19 from your healthcare provider
If you’re insured with primary providers in the Bay Area, such as Kaiser Permanente or Sutter Health, the easiest option to get COVID-19 screening may be to schedule an appointment electronically with that specific provider. Most providers offer online registrations through a member account. Non-public login and appointments can also be scheduled over the phone.
Find a COVID-19 from the state or federal government
The CDC still maintains a national map of COVID-19 testing sites in testinglocator. cdc. gov, and all testing services indexed on the site “should be made available free of charge to others without fitness insurance” through Increasing Community Access to Testing. (ICATT). program.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services also has a list of community-based testing sites around the country. Select California in the “Find Testing Resources” dropdown.
You can also use the California Department of Public Health’s map of COVID-19 testing and treatment sites.
Find a COVID-19 in Your Bay Area County
Most of the county’s testing sites you saw during the height of the pandemic have now closed; However, your county may have several sites still operational, in partnership with Network groups. Find your county on our list of COVID-19 testing resources.
Find a COVID-19 at your local pharmacy
Walgreens offers free take-home and mail-order PCR tests, effective in about two days. Walgreens says insurance isn’t required, but you’ll have to sign your pick-up kit with Labcorp to get the effects. Learn more about COVID-19 testing at your local pharmacy.
Find a COVID-19 from your school district
Many school districts in the Bay Area have introduced COVID-19 testing to students and staff, and infrequently to students’ families, during the pandemic, and some would have possibly continued their systems this school year. Check directly with your child’s school.
At KQED News, we know it can be tricky to find the answers to navigating life in the Bay Area in 2023. We have published transparent and practical explanations and guides on COVID-19, how to cope with intense winter conditions, and how to exercise your right to protest safely.
So tell us: what do you want to know more about? Let us know and you will be able to see the answer to your query online or on social media. What you send will strengthen our reporting and help us make a decision about what we’re going to do. canopy here on our site and also on KQED public radio.
KQED’s Emily Calix and Sydney Johnson contributed reporting this story.
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