Government’s free COVID test website launches early
Some Americans were able to order free coronavirus tests on the new federal government website a day early.
While COVIDTests.gov was expected to start accepting orders on Wednesday, an “Order free at-home tests” button was added Tuesday, which brings users to usps.com/covidtests to order four athome free tests.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Tuesday the site is in its beta phase to allow troubleshooting.
“We can’t guarantee there won’t be a bug or two,” Psaki said, “but the best tech teams across the administration and the Postal Service are working hard to make this a success.”
USA TODAY tested the site and got a message that “COVID-19 tests will start shipping in late January.” The Postal Service will only send one set of four free at-home coronavirus tests to valid residential addresses, the site said.
A message was posted on the website Tuesday that noted the site is “up and running early so we can test the site before our official launch tomorrow. We have tests for every residential address in the U.S. Please check back tomorrow if you run into any unexpected issues.”
Some users immediately identified at least one problem: Orders made by different people living in the same apartment building but in different units were rejected as duplicates, according to some tweets. Americans are supposed to be able to order up to four kits per address. Once ordered, tests are to be mailed within seven to 12 days.
One workaround is to put your apartment number in the street address field, Twitter users reported.
A credit card isn’t needed to order the free tests and there is no cost, unlike the insurance reimbursement program that started Saturday where many will have to submit receipts in order to get the tests for free.
The tests are part of the Biden administration’s purchase of 500 million tests last month to help tackle a record surge in infections.
If you are trying to find an at-home test now, it may seem like a daunting task.
But it is possible to find testing kits in stores and online with some tools, determination and sometimes luck in the face of ongoing shortages.
Some are using the same tactics to find the tests that are being used to score the hard-to-find PS5 and Xbox Series X video game consoles: Following Twitter and social media accounts that blast when the tests are back in stock.
There are also apps and websites that alert consumers when new tests arrive.
For shopping online, alerts or notifications whether from store apps or third-party sites or apps are one of the best ways to find available inventory when it restocks.
Target has in-stock alerts that you can sign up for with its app. Apps, including Hot Stock, also can send you notifications. The app is free but there’s an option to pay $5.49 to receive notifications for up to 10 products.
Before heading to Target, Walmart, or another retailer, you can get a better idea of store inventory by checking store websites or apps. But similar to ordering online, the inventory can quickly change.
Insurance companies are now covering the over-the-counter tests as of Saturday.