WASHINGTON – The federal website where Americans can request free COVID-19 tests is now accepting orders (a day earlier than expected).
The website COVIDTests.gov is providing tests at no cost, including no shipping fee. It was scheduled to launch Wednesday, Jan. 19, but it was live as of Tuesday, Jan. 18.
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Four free tests are available per household.
Go here to order your tests online -- it’s pretty quick and easy: COVIDTests.gov.
- Those who would prefer to place their order by phone can call 800-232-0233 anytime between 8 a.m. to midnight ET, Monday through Sunday. The phone line will offer help in English, Spanish and 150 additional languages, officials said.
But when will you get the tests?
The White House said “tests will typically ship within 7-12 days of ordering” through the U.S. Postal Service, which reports shipping times of 1-3 days for its first-class package service in the continental United States. Let’s hope that’s the case!
Again, the CDC recommends at-home testing when experiencing COVID-19 systems including fever, cough, sore throat, respiratory symptoms and muscle aches, five days after a potential COVID-19 exposure, or as part of test-to-stay protocols in schools and workplaces.
Read back: What you need to understand about the CDC’s COVID isolation guidelines
More: Coronavirus news