The Biden administration on Monday said it is offering another round of free at-home Covid tests to U.S. households ahead of the holiday season, when more people gather indoors and the virus typically spreads at higher levels.

Starting Monday, Americans can use COVIDtests.gov to request four free tests per household. Those who have not ordered any tests this fall can now place two orders for a total of eight tests, according to the website.

The administration in September allowed people to request an initial round of four free tests through the site, resuming a federal program that temporarily shut down during a political fight over Covid funding.

  • MrShankles@lemmy.world
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    10 months ago

    Thank you! Placed my order and it was surprisingly really simple. I like to keep tests around and they can be expensive, so this was awesome! Much appreciated for the info

  • Mr PoopyButthole@lemm.ee
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    10 months ago

    I just wish the rate of false negatives wasn’t so bad. I feel like false negatives have gotten worse too. I’ve had textbook modern covid for two weeks, and now I’m better, but the cough wo,t go away. Never tested positive, but alternative diagnosis seems unlikely.

    • June@lemm.ee
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      10 months ago

      Did you get tested for influenza? My ex wife got nasty sick with the same symptoms as covid but it turned out to be influenza A. If you tested more than once and all were negative it’s likely you never had covid.

      • ChexMax@lemmy.world
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        10 months ago

        I tested twice and both negative and then went to the doctor and tested positive. The home tests are just unreliable sometimes.

  • YoBuckStopsHere@lemmy.world
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    10 months ago

    I keep forgetting Covid is still a issue in some places, especially red states.

    I looked it up and in the United States there were about 16,000 hospitalizations from Covid-19 in November 2023, 90% of which were elderly. I guess this virus is pretty much gone. West Virginia and Hawaii are the only trouble spots for covid this month.

    • ArtieShaw@kbin.social
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      10 months ago

      My husband (vaccinated) caught it hard in early October. Lost his voice completely for three days and could barely eat due to his sore throat. He hasn’t stopped coughing since.

      He’s middle aged (mid-40s) and otherwise healthy.

      My mom (80) caught it last week after a trip to the east coast.

    • ChexMax@lemmy.world
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      10 months ago

      My husband and I both got it last month in a purple state. Not a single person we had contact with “had” COVID, but several people were sick the week before but just didn’t test for COVID. It can mirror cold or flu symptoms. People just don’t realize they have it.

    • pan_troglodytes@programming.dev
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      10 months ago

      western Washington State checking in (so blue we’re edging towards ultramarine) - covid is making its rounds again now - my sister had it, my mother got it, and several colleagues at work are quarantining due to it. dunno about my colleagues but basically everyone I know is up to date on vaccines… for all the good it does…

      tl;dr - you’re borderline imbecilic