With COVID-19 cases surging over the summer, Americans will be able to get another round of free COVID home tests by mail next month.
U.S. households can order four COVID-19 tests online through the COVIDtests.gov program. The end of September, according to the US Department of Health. The agency did not announce an exact date when ordering could begin.
The nasal swab tests would detect current COVID-19 variants and could be used by the end of the year, the agency said.
To date, the agency has distributed over 900 million tests directly to American households, according to COVIDtests.gov.
If you need a COVID test immediately, the government continues to offer low-cost or free antigen and PCR COVID-19 tests for people without health insurance at thousands of free testing sites across the country, the agency said. Find a location at testinglocator.cdc.gov.
COVID home tests are also available in retail stores and pharmacies across the U.S., as well as online. On Amazon, tests cost an average of $5 to $9 per test.
In addition to testing, the government also recommends that everyone aged 6 months and older receive an up-to-date COVID-19 vaccine for 2024-2025, regardless of whether they have received a COVID-19 vaccine before or not.
For more information, visit COVIDtests.gov.
