September 20, 2023 – Starting next week, Americans will give you the option to request 4 free rapid tests for the coronavirus, the Biden administration announced Wednesday.
The tests could be ordered online at covid.gov/tests starting Monday. The tests can detect the newest variants, officials said, and are expected to be in use by the tip of 2023.
The program has shipped greater than 755 million tests to two-thirds of all American households, in accordance with the Health Department's website, and about 310 million have gone to people in underserved communities.
The government stopped sending free tests in June after the general public health emergency resulted in May. The Washington Post reported.
The HHS also announced Wednesday that it's providing $600 million to 12 test manufacturers to enhance testing availability.
“These important investments will increase our nation’s production of domestic rapid COVID-19 tests for home use and help contain the spread of the virus,” HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a press release.
Accordingly The post“Experts say free coronavirus testing has proven to be an effective public health tool because it allows people to check their status before attending large gatherings or spending time with older or medically vulnerable people who are at risk of severe disease even after vaccination. It also allows people to start antiviral treatments in the early days of infection to prevent severe disease.”
The virus has intensified over the summer, and since July, the variety of weekly hospitalizations has increased, to over 20,500 the week of September 9. according to CDC.