Still waiting for your free COVID tests from the government? Here’s what to know
Millions of Americans have ordered and received free at-home COVID-19 test kits from the government, shipped by the U.S. Postal Service, as of Wednesday, Feb. 16, the White House says.
However, not everyone has gotten their order shipped within the expected time frame of seven to 12 days after ordering on COVIDTests.gov, according to online chatter. Up to four rapid antigen tests were made available for each household as of Jan. 18 after President Joe Biden’s administration purchased 1 billion tests to send out.
If you’re still waiting on your free COVID-19 tests, here’s what you should know:
So far, 50 million orders of at-home tests have been shipped to American households across the country, White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Jeffrey Zients said during a Feb. 16 briefing. Specifically, 200 million individual COVID-19 tests have been sent out, he said.
“85 percent of the initial orders are now out the door,” Zients added. “And in the next several days, we will complete the shipping of all of the initial orders.”
“Once the package ships, over 60 percent are delivered within 24 hours and 90 percent within 48 hours,” Zients continued after commending the USPS for its work. “So they are packing and shipping incredibly quickly and efficiently.”
Some, including Phil Galewitz, a correspondent for Kaiser Health News, have taken to social media to share that they’re still waiting for their ordered COVID-19 tests.
“Day 24 waiting for our four free rapid covid tests from covidtest.gov.....but @USPS says to expect them by tonight,” Galewitz wrote on Twitter on Feb. 14.
“Took about a month for my free COVID tests to arrive,” wrote Brett Forrest, a reporter for KSNV News 3 Las Vegas, Feb. 15 on Twitter.
One woman told CBS Austin that she ordered COVID-19 tests the day they were available on Jan. 18 and was notified by USPS on Feb. 15 that she’d get them on Feb. 17 after wondering where they were.
“You don’t say here’s the time frame if you’re not sure what the time frame is,” Cindy Hale told the outlet.
A USPS spokesperson, Dave Partenheimer, told McClatchy News in a statement that the postal service ships “the kits out immediately after receiving them.”
Online, USPS says that “due to high demand, we’re fulfilling orders as tests come in,” and advises those who need a test to place the order “now and it will ship as soon as USPS receives tests from manufacturers.”
As of Feb. 9, more than 60 million American households ordered the free COVID-19 tests, according to the postal service, WUSA9 reported.
A spokesperson told the outlet that an order hasn’t been sent if no tracking number has been issued.
If needed, USPS can be contacted here.
Additionally, Americans in need of a COVID-19 test can get up to eight over the counter at-home tests each month covered for free if they have private health insurance, McClatchy News reported. Soon, millions of Medicare and Medicare Advantage enrollees will be able to do so in the early spring, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
“There are also 20,000 free testing sites across the U.S. where people can get tested for free at local pharmacies and other convenient locations, including community health centers,” Zients said during the briefing.
Those who can’t order the free COVID-19 tests from the government online can order them over the phone at 800-232-0233, McClatchy News reported.
“The United States Postal Service is proud to fulfill its mission of service to the nation by delivering Covid test kits as part of this important public health initiative of the Biden Administration,” U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said in a statement.
“The 650,000 women and men of the United States Postal Service are ready to deliver and proud to play a critical role in supporting the health needs of the American public. We have been working closely with the Administration and were well prepared to accept and deliver test kits on the first day the program launched.”
This story was originally published February 16, 2022 at 2:51 PM with the headline "Still waiting for your free COVID tests from the government? Here’s what to know."
.jpg)