Once Again, Free COVID-19 Home Tests

The U.S. Administration announced today a plan to stay ahead of COVID-19 this winter. While COVID-19 is not the disruptive force it once was, the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus continues to evolve, and cases are rising again.

To better tackle this virus, the U.S. is expanding access to free virus testing options through COVIDTests.gov. For the winter season of 2022-2023.

Starting today, all U.S. households can order four at-home COVID-19 tests that will be mailed directly to them for free.

The Administration will also make tests available to individuals who are blind or have low-vision through this program.

And people who have difficulty accessing the internet or need additional support placing an order can call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489) to get help in more than 150 other languages.

In addition to continuing to support access to free COVID-19 tests in schools, community health centers, rural health clinics, long-term care facilities, and other convenient locations, the Administration is announcing additional distribution programs to reach people with free, at-home tests.

This includes distributing free at-home tests at more than 6,500 Department of Housing and Urban Development-assisted rental housing properties serving seniors and expanding a program to distribute free at-home tests to as many as 500 major food banks for them to distribute to people in their communities.

The Administration is encouraging Americans to use at-home COVID-19 tests when they have symptoms of COVID-19, before and after traveling for the holidays, or visiting indoors with immunocompromised or vulnerable individuals.

Orders for this round of testing will begin to ship starting the week of December 19, 2022, and continue in 2023.

With updated COVID-19 vaccines, at-home tests, and effective oral antiviral treatments widely available, the Administration encourages every American to plan how to prevent and respond to COVID-19 this winter.

Furthermore, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has launched a COVID-19 Personal Action Plan, an easy-to-use guide. 

The CDC's Personal Action Plan helps people lay these steps out in an easy-to-use template so that all Americans, especially those at risk for severe illness, can decrease the risk of COVID-19.

And, if they become infected, have the plan to seek treatment and avoid its worst outcomes quickly.

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