Amid a surge of new Covid-19 cases around the U.S. in recent weeks, the Biden administration is spending $600 million to produce another round of at-home tests, which will be available for free through the mail starting on September 25. Households can order as many as four tests each using the website (COVIDTests.gov) that was first deployed in January 2022.
The federal funds will support the production of roughly 200 million new tests made by 12 manufacturers around the country. “Manufacturing COVID-19 tests in the United States strengthens our preparedness for the upcoming fall and winter seasons, reduces our reliance on other countries, and provides good jobs to hardworking Americans,” Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response Dawn O’Connell said in a statement.
Shipments are scheduled to begin on October 2 through the U.S. Postal Service. A government shutdown, should it occur, will not affect the program’s ability to fulfill orders.
