One yr, 10 months and eight days after the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans will be capable to order free, at-home checks from the federal government. Starting on January nineteenth, you’ll go to COVIDTests.gov and request checks, which will likely be mailed to your private home.
For now, the web site solely has a touchdown web page in English and Spanish. It notes that the transport prices will likely be coated too.
The Biden administration is shopping for one billion at-home, speedy checks to offer to US residents at no cost. The hope is to verify everybody has a check readily available after they want it. The White House mentioned 500 million of these checks will likely be out there on January nineteenth. At the outset, you’ll order 4 per residential tackle.
A cellphone line is being arrange so those that cannot entry the web site can place an order. The administration says it is working with nationwide and native organizations to assist folks in at-risk and hard-hit communities to safe checks.
One necessary factor to notice: the checks will often ship inside 7-12 days of ordering. That timeline will not be extremely helpful for individuals who present signs of COVID-19 or have an in depth contact with a optimistic case and do not have an at-home check helpful.
Still, it is price stocking up on these free checks, particularly given how in-demand they’re. Even Twitter accounts recognized for serving to folks safe new gaming consoles are offering inventory alerts for COVID-19 checks today.