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As part of its “Winter Preparedness Plan” announced on Dec. 15, the Biden administration will continue its free COVID virus at-home test program to address a potential surge in the winter months.
U.S. households can order four free at-home tests from CovidTests.gov. The Biden administration plans to start shipping orders during the week of Dec. 19.
Complimentary tests will also be available at major food banks, according to a White House statement.
The program was suspended on Sept. 2 “because Congress hasn’t provided additional funding to replenish the nation’s stockpile of tests,” the CovidTest website reported at the time.
This week, the Biden administration said that it has reallocated American Rescue Plan funds to purchase additional at-home tests.
“There remains an urgent need for additional COVID funding to help us stay prepared in the face of an unpredictable virus,” a Biden administration senior official told reporters.
“At the end of the day, we had to repurpose some of our existing money to focus on this important initiative as we are seeing cases go up. These are always hard choices, and we have to make trade-offs.”
In a statement detailing the winter preparedness plan, the White House said, “While COVID-19 is not the disruptive force it once was, the virus continues to evolve, and cases are on the rise again as families are spending more time indoors and gathering for the holidays.
“Throughout the COVID-19 response, this administration has been prepared for whatever the virus throws our way—and this moment is no different.”
Making free at-home, rapid COVID-19 tests available through COVIDTests.gov and food banks; and distributing more free tests at “trusted locations” like schools, community health centers, rural health clinics, long-term care facilities, and more than 6,500 Department of Housing and Urban Development-assisted rental housing properties serving seniors; are part of the Winter Preparedness Plan.
