Just one day after Governor Andy Beshear announced that Kentucky had surpassed one million reported COVID-19 cases, the federal website designed to ship at-home COVID tests has officially launched. By using the site, covidtests.gov, U.S. residents can place an order for four free at home tests.
The process of placing the order is similar to online shopping checkouts. A full name and mailing address is required and an email address for shipping updates is optional.
There are limitations on the orders, however. One order includes a maximum number of four rapid antigen tests, and only one order can be placed per residential address. This includes large and multi-generational households.
The tests are available for every residential address in the U.S., including U.S. territories and overseas military and diplomatic addresses.
These rapid antigen at-home tests reportedly give results within 30 minutes and do not require a lab drop-off. According to covidtests.gov, the tests work whether or not you have COVID-19 symptoms and whether or not you are up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines.
The need for at-home COVID tests is increasing as community transmission rates remain high across the nation, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Earlier this week, Governor Andy Beshear announced the state’s highest ever day for newly reported cases Saturday January 15th – 14,896 – as well as the highest ever test positivity rate Tuesday January 18th – 30.25%.
The delivery of the tests is set up by the United States Postal Service, and according to the website, orders will ship for free beginning in late January.
