Starting Thursday, Americans can order four free at-home COVID tests from the federal government ahead of respiratory virus season.

Americans can once again order free at-home COVID-19 tests from the federal government starting Thursday ahead of the upcoming respiratory virus season.

This is the third year in a row the Biden-Harris administration has allowed Americans to order over-the-counter tests at no charge.

Anyone wanting to order tests can do so at COVID.gov/tests. Four tests will be shipped free by USPS, starting Sep. 30.

    • Rhaedas@fedia.io
      25·
      23 hours ago

      Is it really necessary to make it a government thing??

      Yes? Why shouldn’t it be? Lots of things should be covered for anyone, as they help the overall public health. $2 may not seem like a lot, but it is for some. And…if $2 isn’t a big deal, then why not have it covered since it won’t cost the taxpayer that much.

      • MsPenguinette@lemmy.world
        9·
        22 hours ago

        I’ll even go further and say that people who can afford it but wouldn’t otherwise bother might order them if they are free, which is a win for public health if even a few people ends up testing and preventing spread even a little

        • Djtecha@lemm.ee
          5·
          19 hours ago

          Exactly! Just ordered some in case I need to randomly test if I feel off. Wouldn’t spend the 20$ for that scenario.

    • walden@sub.wetshaving.social
      27·
      23 hours ago

      They’re $10-12 USD per test where I live.

      What do you mean about a phone app? How would that possibly be a reliable test?

          • CascadianGiraffe@lemmy.world
            5·
            19 hours ago

            That’s what I paid last month at Walgreens for a kit with 2 tests.

            I thought they were still free so it was quite the sticker shock. I went in for supplies thinking I could afford $40 this month and ended up spending $65.

            If I didn’t NEED the test for work I would have just not bothered at that price. When you live check-to-check stuff like this matters.

            • FireTower@lemmy.world
              2·
              18 hours ago

              I’m shocked your work doesn’t have some for free. Kits are much cheaper in bulk orders and the benefit to an employer of not having sick people killing production is probably clear.

              One job I had had a literal pallet of them. People would grab an entire family’s worth at a time.

          • Zerlyna@lemmy.worldEnglish
            3·
            21 hours ago

            I’ll have to check again. But I’m happy for the freebies! We are a household of three. Every bit helps.

      • GSz@kbin.earth
        4·
        22 hours ago

        I think they are talking about this: https://www.covid-19-sounds.org/en/

        Back in 2022 there was a news article circulating around the research based on this app, Other than that news blitz I can’t find anything substantial using regular web searches.

        Keywords: Wafaa Aljbawi COVID Sounds Phone App

        I couldn’t download it using Google Play - it says it is designed for an old phone, but Aurora App Store allowed it to be downloaded. Not sure if it’s trustworthy, as after it’s initial news blitz, completely silent.

        Reviews are old, it seems that this might have been an active thing back in 2020 or 2022, but at this point, I’m guessing it’s unmaintained on the Univesity side.