Free COVID tests

The federal government is ending its free at-home Covid-19 test program this week, citing a lack of funding and efforts to preserve supply ahead of an ...

"We have warned that Congressional inaction would force unacceptable tradeoffs and harm our overall COVID-19 preparedness and response—and that the consequences would likely worsen over time," the White House official told CNN. [absent additional funding from Congress](https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/15/politics/white-house-covid-funding-warning/index.html) [have warned](https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/14/politics/zients-covid-supplemental/index.html)

The federal government is putting a pause on sending free COVID-19 testing kits to Americans starting in September, due to a lack of funding.

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The U.S. government is ending its program of offering free COVID-19 tests to Americans. The government quietly made the announcement on the website ...

(There is no limit on the number of tests that are covered if they’re given or ordered by a healthcare professional.) Currently, Covid.gov/tests directs people to learn more about getting COVID-19 tests this way. "We're getting to this phase where people are carrying on and not paying much attention to the pandemic," he says. Halkitis says he’s “more concerned” about how the reduction in spending for COVID relief will impact how many people get vaccinated against the virus. People with symptoms are doing one and done with testing and, because of that, the interpretation of people on whether they’re actually sick is not quite accurate.” “People who are not as affluent will not have easy access to tests,” he says. “Some individuals don’t have health insurance and can’t afford tests.” That, he says, “will have an impact” on controlling the spread of COVID-19. “Many people don’t even know about the free tests,” he says. “I think fewer people will take advantage of home testing if they’re not provided for free.” “People haven’t taken full advantage of this, but clearly testing is critical,” says Thomas Russo, M.D., professor and chief of infectious disease at the University at Buffalo in New York. “Until then, we believe reserving the remaining tests for distribution later this year is the best course.” The government quietly made the announcement on the website [covid.gov/tests](https://www.covid.gov/tests), where people can currently claim their free tests. More than 70 million households have used the website to order at-home tests and 350 million tests were delivered, according to a [fact sheet](https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/05/17/fact-sheet-the-biden-administration-announces-americans-can-order-additional-free-at-home-rapid-covid-19-tests-at-covidtests-gov/) from the White House released in May.