CNN
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Individuals in the USA can now order extra free Covid-19 assessments from the federal authorities because the nation heads into respiratory virus season with excessive ranges of the coronavirus already circulating.
Every family is eligible to obtain 4 at-home take a look at kits, which may be requested from COVIDTests.gov beginning as we speak. They’ll be shipped free of charge beginning subsequent week by way of the US Postal Service.
That is this system’s seventh spherical of distribution, which has delivered greater than 900 million free assessments on to US residents because it began within the winter of 2021, in accordance with the US Division of Well being and Human Companies.
The fast antigen assessments take about half-hour to provide outcomes. This subsequent set of assessments will be capable to detect at present circulating variants and can be utilized for testing in individuals who have Covid-19 signs and those that don’t, in addition to in those that are up-to-date on their Covid-19 vaccination and those that aren’t.
“Reopening this common program is the most recent step by the Biden-Harris Administration to make sure that over-the-counter COVID-19 assessments can be found to all who need them this fall and winter,” HHS Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response Daybreak O’Connell stated in a press release. “Earlier than you go to with your loved ones and associates this vacation season, take a fast take a look at and assist hold them secure from COVID-19.”
The out there assessments additionally embody an choice with options that make it extra accessible for individuals with disabilities affecting dexterity or imaginative and prescient to make use of. Extra details about ordering these assessments is obtainable at ACL.gov/AccessibleTests.
“COVID-19 testing might help you realize in case you have COVID-19 so you may resolve what to do subsequent, like getting therapy to cut back your threat of extreme sickness and taking steps to decrease your possibilities of spreading the virus to others,” in accordance with the HHS Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response.
To scale back the unfold of Covid-19, the US Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention recommends that individuals who take a look at optimistic keep dwelling and away from others till they’re fever-free for at the very least 24 hours.
The US Meals and Drug Administration recommends that folks take a number of fast assessments to make sure they don’t have Covid-19: two damaging assessments for these with signs and three for these with out signs, carried out 48 hours aside.
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The CDC additionally recommends that everybody age 6 months or older obtain an up to date Covid-19 vaccine this season to remain updated.
This yr, there are a number of choices out there; mRNA vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer have been up to date to focus on KP.2, one of many so-called FLiRT variants which have been dominant within the US since Could. These vaccines are for individuals 6 months and older. A extra conventional protein vaccine from Novavax can be out there, however it targets JN.1, a variant that’s nonetheless circulating however much less prominently than just a few months in the past. The Novavax vaccine is accepted just for these ages 12 and up.
The up to date Covid-19 vaccines can be found now at pharmacies throughout the US and may be obtained similtaneously the annual flu vaccine.
“The very best plan going into this winter is for everybody to stay vigilant, to make use of the instruments now we have: vaccines, testing, therapy towards the diseases accountable for almost all of fall and winter deaths and hospitalizations,” CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen stated final week.
CNN’s Brenda Goodman contributed to this report.