A woman holds two boxes of at-home Covid-19 test kits in Washington, Dec. 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik/ The Canadian Press file)
Starting this month, Americans will once again be able to order free COVID-19 test kits, which will be delivered straight to their homes.
Households can request up to four nasal swab tests through COVIDTests.gov as the federal program resumes. While the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has yet to announce the exact date for when orders will open, it's expected soon.
According to a department spokesperson, the test kits will be able to detect the current strains of the virus and are being made available ahead of the holiday season, a time when many people gather with loved ones.
In addition to testing, U.S. regulators recently approved an updated COVID-19 vaccine aimed at protecting against the newer strains expected to circulate this winter. The CDC has recommended this new vaccine for everyone aged 6 months and older as part of the fall immunization push.
Though many Americans have developed some level of immunity from past infections, vaccinations, or both, that protection decreases over time. Last year’s vaccines were designed for an earlier strain of the virus that is no longer circulating.
