HEALTH
Americans Can Order Another Round Of 4 Free COVID Tests From The Government
iHealth
Starting this week, Americans can order another four free COVID-19 tests from the government, two months after the free testing program re-launched.
The Department of Health and Human Services in late September relaunched the [COVIDtests.gov](https://www.covid.gov/tests) website following a $600 million investment to a dozen test manufacturers. Every U.S. household was eligible to receive up to four free rapid antigen tests. On Monday, the agency announced households could order another four free tests.
Those who did not order any tests in the first round of availability can now order up to eight free tests, the agency said.
This winter will be the first since the pandemic began during which health insurers are not required to cover the cost of COVID-19 tests.
The return of free testing comes as winter sets in, when respiratory viruses typically circulate the most. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, flu and RSV cases are already spiking in some parts of the country.
There were 16,239 hospitalizations for COVID-19 in the week ending Nov. 11, up 8.6% from the week before, according to the CDC, but down from more than 20,000 hospital admissions in the first week of September, as the school year began. Deaths were up 9.1% for the week ending Nov. 11. COVID-19 has caused more than 1.1 million deaths since the pandemic began.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration in September approved updated COVID-19 vaccines targeting the XBB.1.5 omicron subvariant and related lineages. The new vaccines provide protection against severe illness and death for all strains currently in circulation, according to the FDA.
The CDC recommended that everyone ages 6 months and older get an updated COVID-19 booster vaccine.
TMX contributed to this article.
