Current:Home > BackGovernment announces more COVID-19 tests can be ordered through mail for no cost-LoTradeCoin
Government announces more COVID-19 tests can be ordered through mail for no cost
View Date:2024-12-23 23:54:31
WASHINGTON (AP) —
On the heels of a summer wave of COVID-19 cases, Americans will be able to get free virus test kits mailed to their homes, starting in late September.
U.S. households will be able to order up to four COVID-19 nasal swab tests when the federal program reopens, according to the website, COVIDtests.gov. The U.S. Health and Human Services agency that oversees the testing has not announced an exact date for ordering to begin.
The tests will detect current virus strains and can be ordered ahead of the holiday season when family and friends gather for celebrations, an HHS spokesperson said in an emailed statement. Over-the-counter COVID-19 at-home tests typically cost around $11, as of last year.
The announcement also comes as the government is once again urging people to get an updated COVID-19 booster, ahead of the fall and winter respiratory virus season. Earlier this week, U.S. regulators approved an updated COVID-19 vaccine that is designed to combat the recent virus strains and, hopefully, forthcoming winter ones, too. Vaccine uptake is waning, however. Most Americans have some immunity from prior infections or vaccinations, but data shows under a quarter of U.S. adults took last fall’s COVID-19 shot.
The Biden administration has given out 1.8 billion COVID-19 tests, including half distributed to households by mail. It’s unclear how many tests the feds have on hand.
Tens of billions of tax-payer dollars have been used to develop COVID-19 tests, vaccines and treatments.
Although deaths and serious infections have dropped dramatically since COVID-19 started its U.S. spread in 2020, hospitalizations have started to slightly creep up in recent weeks. In total, more than 1 million Americans have died from the virus.
veryGood! (1316)
Related
- Full House's John Stamos Shares Message to Costar Dave Coulier Amid Cancer Battle
- US defends its veto of call for Gaza ceasefire while Palestinians and others demand halt to fighting
- This Avengers Alum Is Joining The White Lotus Season 3
- Mexican authorities investigate massacre after alleged attack by cartel drones and gunmen
- 'Cowboy Carter' collaborators to be first country artists to perform at Rolling Loud
- Cesarean deliveries surge in Puerto Rico, reaching a record rate in the US territory, report says
- Unsealing of documents related to decades of Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual abuse of girls concludes
- Steve Martin Defends Jo Koy Amid Golden Globes Hosting Gig Criticism
- Man waives jury trial in killing of Georgia nursing student
- Trans youth sue over Louisiana's ban on gender-affirming health care
Ranking
- Democrat George Whitesides wins election to US House, beating incumbent Mike Garcia
- A one-on-one debate between Haley and DeSantis could help decide the Republican alternative to Trump
- Adan Canto, known for his versatility in roles in ‘X-Men’ and ‘Designated Survivor,’ dies at 42
- Armed attack during live broadcast at Ecuadorian TV station. What’s behind the spiraling violence?
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has a long record of promoting anti-vaccine views
- With threats, pressure and financial lures, China seen as aiming to influence Taiwan’s elections
- Killing of Hezbollah commander in Lebanon fuels fear Israel-Hamas war could expand outside Gaza
- ChatGPT-maker braces for fight with New York Times and authors on ‘fair use’ of copyrighted works
Recommendation
-
All Social Security retirees should do this by Nov. 20
-
Blizzard knocks out power and closes highways and ski resorts in Oregon and Washington
-
Florida mom of 10 year old who shot, killed neighbor to stand trial for manslaughter
-
Russia says it's detained U.S. citizen Robert Woodland on drug charges that carry possible 20-year sentence
-
15 new movies you'll want to stream this holiday season, from 'Emilia Perez' to 'Maria'
-
California faculty at largest US university system could strike after school officials halt talks
-
Votes by El Salvador’s diaspora surge, likely boosting President Bukele in elections
-
All the movies you'll want to see in 2024, from 'Mean Girls' to a new 'Beverly Hills Cop'