COVID-19 residence take a look at kits are pictured in a retailer window in the course of the coronavirus illness (COVID-19) pandemic within the Manhattan borough of New York Metropolis, New York, U.S., January 19, 2022.
Carlo Allegri | Reuters
The Biden administration on Monday mentioned it’s providing another round of free at-home Covid tests to U.S. households forward of the holiday season, when extra folks collect indoors and the virus usually spreads at higher levels.
Beginning Monday, Individuals can use COVIDtests.gov to request 4 free exams per family. Those that haven’t ordered any exams this fall can now place two orders for a complete of eight exams, in keeping with the web site.
The administration in September allowed folks to request an preliminary spherical of 4 free exams by means of the location, resuming a federal program that briefly shut down throughout a political fight over Covid funding.
At-home exams are a vital software to guard in opposition to the virus, particularly now that lab PCR exams — the normal technique of detecting Covid — have change into costlier and fewer accessible for the reason that authorities ended the public health emergency in Might.
However demand for exams, together with Covid vaccines and coverings, has plummeted during the last yr as circumstances and public concern concerning the virus dwindled from earlier within the pandemic.
Solely a small share of Individuals seem like nervous about Covid disrupting their vacation plans this fall and winter.
About 3 in 10 Individuals mentioned they’re involved they’ll get critically sick from Covid or will unfold the virus to folks near them over the vacations, in keeping with a poll launched Friday by well being coverage analysis group KFF.
Lower than half have been involved concerning the potential for one more Covid surge in the course of the winter, which has occurred in earlier years of the pandemic, the ballot mentioned.
Nonetheless, indicators of a winter Covid wave are rising.
Greater than 16,200 Americans have been hospitalized within the week ending Nov. 11, in keeping with the newest information from the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention. That marks an 8.6% improve from the earlier week.
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