Tell Your Employees: U.S. Government Will Offer Free COVID Test Kits Starting THIS Wednesday

The U.S. government will begin making free at-home COVID-19 tests available through a federal website starting Wednesday, January 19, 2022. Households will be able to order four tests at a time through a website called COVIDTests.gov.

The tests will typically ship within 7-12 business days of ordering and will come via the U.S. Postal Service. All orders in the continental United States will be sent through First Class Package Service while shipments to Alaska, Hawaii, and the U.S. Territories and APO/FPO/DPO addresses will be sent through Priority Mail.

At this time, the federal government has 500 million test kits to allot. According to a White House fact sheet, the federal government will take steps to ensure tests reach hard-hit and high-risk communities first. These steps include prioritizing the processing of orders to households experiencing the highest social vulnerability and in communities that have experienced a disproportionate share of COVID-19 cases and deaths, particularly during the Omicron surge.

The federal government also is launching a free call-in phone line so that Americans who have difficulty accessing the internet or need additional support can phone-in orders for their tests. Read more here.