Free at-home COVID-19 tests to be reintroduced this fall in the U.S.

The U.S. government under the Biden administration announced Friday that it will once again provide free at-home COVID-19 testing kits to American families starting in late September, following a resurgence of the virus across the country this summer.

In a press conference, officials said Americans can request up to four free tests per household through COVIDtests.gov. The tests are designed to identify prevalent COVID variants, primarily derivatives of the Omicron JN.1 strain, which is known to be highly transmissible.

Dawn O’Connell, assistant secretary for preparedness and response at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), highlighted the initiative’s role in safeguarding families during the colder months ahead. “This marks the seventh instance in three years that the Biden-Harris administration has facilitated access to free COVID-19 testing kits through this federal program,” she noted.

Since its launch in 2021, the program has distributed more than 1.8 billion free COVID tests to the public, O’Connell added.

The decision to resume distribution is a response to a significant increase in COVID-19 cases this summer, coupled with continued high levels of the virus in wastewater surveillance in nearly every state, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported.

The timing of the program’s reintroduction coincides with the start of an increase in travel and indoor gatherings as the holidays approach. “As people begin to travel and gather for the holidays, having access to this testing will be critical,” said David Boucher, director of infectious disease preparedness and response at HHS.

Additionally, by the end of September, the latest COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna, targeting the KP.2 variant, a derivative of JN.1, will be available in pharmacies and health care facilities across the country, following recent approval by the Food and Drug Administration.

While PCR tests remain the gold standard for diagnosing COVID-19, their rising costs and declining availability have posed challenges. Nonetheless, some local health authorities continue to offer free at-home testing kits to the community.