Free COVID-19 test kits available through U.S. Postal Service website
Free COVID-19 test kits offered by the U.S. federal government are now available through the U.S. Postal Service website.
According to the site, residential households in the U.S. can order one set of four free at-home tests from https://special.usps.com/testkits.
There will be a limit of one order per residential address; one order includes four individual rapid antigen COVID-19 tests. The kits are scheduled to start shipping in late January, according to the website.
Those ordering the test kits will need to fill out a brief form on the website with their name and address.
Additional information also is available on the website COVIDtests.gov , which says that the tests available for order:
- Are rapid antigen at-home tests, not PCR
- Can be taken anywhere
- Give results within 30 minutes (no lab drop-off required)
- Work whether or not you have COVID-19 symptoms
- Work whether or not you are up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines
- Are also referred to self-tests or over-the-counter (OTC) tests
Testing is also available through local medical providers; however, local supplies are limited at this time. Stephens Memorial Hospital announced last week that they are able to test only people with COVID symptoms and are not currently testing for people do not have symptoms but who need a negative test for travel or because employers are requiring it to return to work. The cost of getting a COVID-19 test through a medical provider may depend on the patient’s insurance, income and/or the provider.
