A free COVID testing at-home program is resuming as the government prepares for the winter, fall and spring seasons

Officials confirmed that the website used to place orders for tests will be back in September.

By Mary Kekatos, Dr. Aditi Kantipuly

Aug 23, 2024 05:49 PM

The federal government will restart its free at-home COVID tests program in September as officials prepare the country for the upcoming respiratory virus season.

Dawn O’Connell, assistant secretary for preparedness and response in the Department of Health and Human Services she announced on Friday that this was the seventh time that the Biden-Harris administration has permitted Americans to obtain tests from a pharmacy without cost.

It’s unclear exactly when COVID.gov/tests is expected to come operational. The site was shut down in the beginning of March.

“As families start to move indoors this fall and begin spending time with their loved ones, both very old and very young, they will once again have the opportunity to order up to four new COVID-19 tests free of charge and have them sent directly to their homes,” O’Connell informed reporters. “These tests will help keep families and their loved ones safe this fall and winter season.”

The tests will be able identify infections from currently in circulation variations.

At the same press conference Federal officials also said that the spike in summer COVID cases isn’t contributing to a similar increase in deaths and hospitalizations, similar to the previous years.

The Dr. Mandy Cohen, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that immunity from vaccinations and previous COVID infection have reduced the impact of COVID on the health care system.

“I do want to acknowledge that we continue to see a lot of COVID-19 activity across the country right now in tests coming back from labs,” Cohen declared and added “Circulating COVID disease is not translating into similar increases in emergency room visits and hospitalizations or deaths.”

Cohen noted that the severity of COVID is beginning to resemble flu, but he noted that COVID is still more risky.

Based on a forecast from the federal government for the coming respiratory virus season the U.S. can expect similar or slightly better figures regarding hospitalizations at the peak in the context of COVID influenza, COVID, and RSV in combination, she added.

“We know that protection decreases over time, and certain groups continue to be at higher risk from COVID and other viruses and we need to continue to protect ourselves and our loved ones,” Cohen added.

Officials also emphasized that everyone should be vaccinated for COVID, influenza and RSV ahead of the forthcoming RSV season.

For COVID-19 and the flu for COVID-19 and flu, the CDC recommends that anyone six months and over receive the COVID as well as a flu vaccination, which includes pregnant women. Cohen stated that individuals could receive both vaccines in one go.

On Thursday on Thursday, on Thursday, the FDA has approved and issued an the emergency authorization for COVID-19 updated vaccines from Pfizer BioNTech and Moderna for the winter and fall seasons.

COVID-19 vaccine makers have told ABC News the vaccines are scheduled to be available within the next week.

To prevent RSV babies, any infant older than 8 months and infants aged between 8 months to 18 months who are susceptible should get the vaccine. RSV vaccination is recommended to pregnant women who are between 32 and 36 weeks gestation, as and for all adults 75 and up and for adults between 60-74 with a high risk.

Alongside the tests, O’Connell said Paxlovid, an antiviral medication that treats COVID-19-related infections in patients who are at risk of being hospitalized is available at no cost to people who are on Medicare and Medicaid and for those without insurance.

Starting in 2025 and lasting until 2028, Pfizer who manufactures Paxlovid and Paxlovid, will assume the assistance program for those who are not insured or underinsured O’Connell said.

Merck’s assistance to patients programme will be in place to offer Lagevrio which is an antiviral drug used to treat patients who are in need of hospitalization due to COVID-19 to those who aren’t insured.

“Distributing at-home tests and securing access to treatments is an essential part of the Biden Harris administration’s efforts to ensure that we are as prepared as possible for the upcoming fall and winter respiratory season,” O’Connell stated.