Order free COVID self-tests now from U.S. Government

Every American household can now order four at-home COVID testing kits per month, free of charge, from the U.S. Government.

Anyone who wants to order should visit the COVIDtests.gov website, and click on “Order Free At-Home Tests.” The link directs to a U.S. Postal Service site, where each family can place an order with a simple name and shipping address. The site does not take any billing information.

The site says test kits ship within 7-12 days of ordering.

Cases of COVID-19 are exponentially increasing across Oregon with the highly-contagious Omicron variant. Many families are now finding themselves with household members either infected or exposed to COVID, and unable to find a test at a local store.

The Food and Drug Administration has approved several companies to produce and sell at-home COVID tests (see complete list from the FDA here). Most cost around $25 for two tests, which can add up quickly for large families. Stores are having trouble keeping COVID tests in stock, and online sellers are either quickly selling out, or promising far-off shipping dates.

To avoid forcing the extra cost on families already strained financially, and helping stores to keep testing kits in stock, the federal government created the website and launched it a day early.

Click here for updated info on COVID-19 vaccines and testing from Cow Creek Public Health and Cow Creek Health & Wellness Center.