CNN
—
The US authorities’s free at-home Covid-19 take a look at program will likely be suspended Friday, in accordance with the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response.
Since November, residential households within the US have been capable of submit an order via Covidtests.gov for 4 particular person speedy antigen exams. All orders positioned on or earlier than Friday will be fulfilled, in accordance with ASPR, an working division of the US Division of Well being and Human Companies.
“ASPR has delivered over 1.8 billion free COVID-19 exams to the American folks via COVIDTests.gov and direct distribution pathways and can proceed distributing thousands and thousands of exams per week to long-term care services, meals banks, well being facilities, and colleges,” an ASPR spokesperson mentioned in a press release Tuesday.
The choice to droop this system’s sixth run comes amid falling Covid-19 circumstances because the nation’s respiratory virus season winds down, in accordance with the company.
Final month, the US Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention mentioned that the worst of the season could also be over however warned that Covid-19 ranges stay elevated throughout the nation.
“Whereas the respiratory virus season is probably going previous its peak, it’s undoubtedly not over,” the company said. “There’s nonetheless a number of respiratory virus exercise, so it’s not time to let our guard down.”
Charges of Covid-19-related hospitalizations stay elevated however are reducing in some components of the nation, CDC data exhibits. Nonetheless, hundreds of persons are being hospitalized with Covid-19 every week: greater than 17,000 through the week ending February 24, in accordance with the CDC.
An ASPR spokesperson says the company reserves the correct to reopen the testing program if wanted.
The federal government beforehand suspended the speedy take a look at distribution program in Could after the top of the Covid-19 public well being emergency. It was reopened September 25.
Residents who haven’t positioned an order since then can now place two, which is able to present eight exams in complete, in accordance with the US Postal Service. Every order contains 4 speedy antigen Covid-19 exams.
These exams may be taken at house and can be utilized no matter whether or not somebody has signs. The exams ought to work via the top of the 12 months; a number of the dates on the labels might present that they’re expired, however the US Meals and Drug Administration has extended those dates.
The CDC recommends that people test if they’ve any Covid-19-like signs together with a sore throat, a runny nostril, lack of scent or style or a fever.
Individuals can also wish to take a look at earlier than they’re going to be part of a big occasion, like a live performance or a convention, notably in the event that they aren’t up-to-date on their vaccines. Antiviral drugs can be found to deal with each Covid-19 and flu, and testing may help decide which is required.
Extra info on free testing assets is on the market on the Covidtests.gov site or at 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489).
CNN’S Deidre McPhillips contributed to this report.
Correction: A earlier model of this story incorrectly described ASPR.