United States: The U.S. government program distributing free at-home COVID tests has stopped accepting new orders.
Program Suspended Without Explanation
There remains no official statement from the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) about starting the program again, as reported by HealthDay.
“The free at-home COVID-19 test distribution program is not currently accepting orders,” the website states.
Existing Orders Will Still Be Shipped
Laboratory tests placed before 8 p.m. ET on March 9 will continue to get shipped to their destination. Home test kits remain accessible at pharmacies and grocery stores for prices ranging between $10 to $35 each.
Insurance plans with coverage options or public health departments at local levels provide free tests to the public.
A History of On-and-Off Availability
The distribution of COVID tests through the program commenced in winter 2021 yet stopped operating several times thereafter.
The program was deactivated temporarily in spring when case numbers decreased yet restarted when fall began before the arrival of respiratory virus seasons.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) failed to provide the rationale behind the newest ban on this program.
COVID Cases Declining, But Virus Still Present
The COVID outbreak remains worrisome though the infection rates continue to fall. Based on data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) during March 1 testing revealed that 4% of people got positive COVID test results which showed a minor decrease from the earlier week, as reported by HealthDay.
Small reductions have occurred for both hospital admission numbers and mortality data.
People experiencing COVID-like symptoms should perform multiple tests to verify their diagnosis according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).