The White House has reactivated its free Covid testing by mail program

August the federal government pumped the brakes Its “free COVID test kit by mail“Service”, one of the most popular programs to come out of the pandemicFears that the American public would reduce the stockpile of national tests before winter began led to the decision to discontinue the program. On Thursday, the White House announced that it has restarted the program in cooperation with the US Postal Service, though households will only receive half as many tests as before — four individual rapid antigen COVID-19 tests per household. We are the wealthiest nation on the planet.

600 million at-home test had been sent out to American households by the time the program was stopped. Given the pace of distribution, additional funding would have been required to buy more tests. The White House did exactly that in September. asking for $22.4 billion in additional funding to fight COVID — amid mild Summer and Fall COVID seasons, Congress did nothing. The White House was then pared down its ask to $10 billion in a supplemental funding request November Facing strident opposition from Republicans The following is a discussion on the subject: Congress continues to dither.

In mid-October, COVID cases fell to their lowest level with only 261,268 being reported in the country. In the last two months, this number has increased by more than twice. per the CDC. In the midst of what may be the latest pandemic wave, the White House decided that it was urgent enough to call for a dip into the national stockpile of test stocks as part of its emergency response plan. Winter Preparedness Plan. You can order one through the US Postal Service page here. The shipping fee for orders will start the week of December 19th 2022.