Free COVID tests will be available soon

WASHINGTON, DC — Starting at the end of September, U.S. households will be able to order four free COVID-19 tests at COVIDTests.gov.

These tests will be able to detect current COVID-19 variants and can be used through the end of the year.

Getting tested can help you determine whether to seek treatment to reduce your risk of severe illness and take precautions to prevent spreading the virus to others,, says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

The U.S. government provides COVID-19 tests to uninsured people and underserved communities through the CDC’s Increasing Community Access to Testing (ICATT) program. Walgreens locations in Hawley, PA, Milford, PA, Port Jervis, NY, and Liberty, NY, participate in ICATT.

The CDC says vaccination is the most effective protection from severe disease, hospitalization, and death. It is especially important for those who are 65 and older, at high risk for severe COVID, or have never received a COVID vaccine. Vaccine protection decreases over time.