WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans can request more COVID-19 tests for home delivery.
The U. S. government is proposing to send out a new circular of four at-home tests to detect the virus before the typical surge in the winter holiday period.
Anyone who didn’t order a set of 4 COVID-19 tests in September can get up to 8 this time starting Monday in COVIDtests. gov. The U. S. Postal Service The U. S. Department of Homeland Security will deliver them for free.
The government is mailing out the coronavirus tests as the the flu season kicks off and a spike in RSV cases has been reported in some spots around the country. Hospitalizations for COVID-19, which has killed more than 1 million people in the United States, were on the rise this fall but have stayed steady in recent weeks. Immunity from previous vaccinations and infections has kept case counts lower compared with other years.
The new edition of free COVID-19 nasal swab testing also comes as we approach the first winter since the start of the pandemic in which insurers are no longer required to cover the cost. On average, at-home tests now charge $11 out-of-pocket, according to a study by the nonprofit fitness studio company KFF.
The Food and Drug Administration also approved updated COVID-19 vaccines in September in hopes of increasing coverage for Americans this winter. The shots target a descendant of Omicron called XBB. 1. 5, which replaces 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 absorption has been slow.
Your tax-deductible donation to The Columbian’s community-funded journalism program will contribute to greater local coverage of key issues, such as homelessness, housing, transportation, and the environment. Journalists will talk about narrative, investigative and data-driven storytelling.
Local journalism wants your help. It is a component of a healthy network and a healthy democracy.