How to Get Free COVID Tests from the US Government This Month

American households will soon be able to order four free COVID-19 test kits at the end of this month, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced.

The tests will be available on the HHS website, within the Strategic Preparedness and Response Administration, and will be able to detect the dominant variants currently circulating in the U.S., including KP.3.1.1, which accounts for more than half of all COVID-19 cases in the U.S.

The exact release date has not yet been confirmed.

After a surge in COVID-19 cases this summer, infection rates appear to be declining. Positive test results now account for 14.9 percent of all COVID tests (excluding home tests) in the U.S., down 1.6 percent from the previous week. But case numbers remain high in some southern and central states, and a winter surge in infections is expected.

According to HHS, more than 900 million tests have been distributed to U.S. households through the COVIDtests.gov program, although the program’s website does not currently offer the option to purchase free at-home test kits.

Home testing kits are also available at retailers and pharmacies nationwide, and thousands of low-cost or free COVID-19 testing sites can be ordered from a local Health Resources and Services Administration-funded health center or Increasing Community Access to Testing (ICATT) site near you.

Free tests issued through the program will be available at least until the end of the year, with many home COVID tests having extended expiration dates. However, it is always important to check that your tests have not expired before relying on them for results.

If you test positive, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends staying home and avoiding other people, including people you live with who are not sick. This should also apply if you have any flu-like symptoms, including fever, chills, fatigue, cough, headache, or runny nose.

If you have been fever-free for more than 24 hours and your symptoms are generally improving, you can return to normal activities, although you should still take extra precautions for the next five days in case you are still contagious. These include ensuring adequate ventilation, practicing good hygiene, wearing a mask, and practicing physical distancing.

If you test positive and are at risk for more serious illness—for example, if you’re over 50, have a weakened immune system, or have other health problems—talk to your doctor as soon as possible about potential treatment options. Home test results can also be uploaded to MakeMyTestCount.org.

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