Final Week to Get Free COVID Tests: How to Order Yours Before It’s Too Late

Simply as college students are beginning faculty once more and the autumn season approaches, the US federal authorities is suspending its program to ship free at-home COVID-19 exams to American households. USA In the present day first reported on Friday that the choice was made resulting from a restricted provide of exams.

Over the weekend, the devoted US Postal Service web page for at-home COVID exams added an announcement that the “order free of charge at-home COVID-19 exams program will likely be suspended on Friday, September 2, 2022.”

In January, the federal government launched CovidTests.gov, a web site that allow households order 4 free speedy antigen COVID-19 exams shipped by the US Postal Service. The location added 4 extra free exams in March, after which one other eight extra in Might. 

If you have not obtained any exams, you possibly can nonetheless get all 16 free exams, however you will have to act rapidly. Fortunately, it solely takes two minutes to order your exams. See beneath to learn the way to get take a look at kits, after they’ll arrive and what to do when you’ve got issues. 

Tips on how to get free COVID-19 exams

You solely want to offer the US Postal Service with a couple of bits of knowledge to get your free take a look at kits. You will not be requested to offer any credit score or debit card particulars, as each the exams and the transport are free. Here is tips on how to get your free take a look at kits. 

1. Go to particular.USPS.com/testkits. You can even get there through covidtests.gov.

2. Enter your contact particulars and transport info.

3. Click on Test Out Now.

4. Confirm that your info is appropriate and choose Place My Order.

All orders will likely be shipped through First Class Package deal Service.

Individuals who cannot entry the web site or who’ve bother ordering on-line can name 800-232-0233 to order their free exams.

How can I monitor my order?

When you place your order, you must obtain a affirmation electronic mail. When your package deal ships, you will obtain electronic mail notifications offering you with transport updates, together with a monitoring quantity and estimated supply date. Word that for the third spherical, you will obtain two packages that’ll possible arrive on totally different days, so search for two affirmation emails along with your monitoring numbers.

When you obtain it, you possibly can both click on the monitoring hyperlink or copy and paste the monitoring quantity into the Postal Service’s web site’s tracker.

What number of take a look at kits can I get? 

In response to the USPS, every residential family is eligible for 3 rounds of free at-home speedy antigen COVID-19 exams, for a complete of 16 kits.

Just one particular person per tackle will be capable of place an order for the free exams, even when you’ve got a number of individuals dwelling in your house. 

Can I select which model take a look at I get? 

No, there is not an possibility to decide on which model of take a look at you’ll obtain. All exams are speedy antigen exams approved by the Meals and Drug Administration, like iHealth.

When will the take a look at kits arrive? 

Checks are usually despatched out inside seven to 12 days of an order being efficiently positioned and are delivered by the USPS inside one to 3 days of transport.

What if I have not obtained my first or second batch of take a look at kits?

The USPS says its web site has had some difficulties recognizing sure residential addresses, particularly condo buildings, multifamily properties and residences linked to industrial properties. 

When you have had points putting an order, you possibly can file a service request on-line or name the USPS Assist Desk at 800-ASK-USPS.

Is it OK to make use of a take a look at package that was left exterior?

In response to the FDA, producers have ensured that the exams stay secure at numerous temperatures, “together with transport through the summer time in extremely popular areas and within the winter in very chilly areas.”

However a take a look at could also be broken by being left outside in freezing temperatures or getting used instantly after being introduced inside from freezing temperatures. 

The best temperature to retailer speedy antigen COVID-19 take a look at kits is between 59 and 86 levels Fahrenheit. 

The FDA has warned concerning the impact of utmost warmth on COVID exams, saying that, “lengthy publicity to excessive temperatures might influence the take a look at efficiency,” but additionally recommends merely confirming the take a look at line on the package. 

“So long as the take a look at line[s] seem as described within the directions, you will be assured that the take a look at is performing because it ought to,” the FDA web site says.

The knowledge contained on this article is for academic and informational functions solely and isn’t supposed as well being or medical recommendation. At all times seek the advice of a doctor or different certified well being supplier concerning any questions you could have a few medical situation or well being goals.