Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
You Can Order Free Covid Tests Now As Government's Beta Website Opens
NPR: Free COVID Test Kits Are Now Available To Order Via USPS
The U.S. Postal Service has begun taking orders for free at-home coronavirus test kits. The website COVIDtests.gov was originally slated to begin taking orders on Wednesday. White House press secretary Jen Psaki says the site is in the "beta testing" stage and "will be launched formally tomorrow morning [Wednesday]." Each household order will contain four rapid tests, which the Postal Service says will be shipped for free "in late January." The White House says it will prioritize shipments to Americans from ZIP codes that have experienced high rates of COVID-19 cases and deaths, with the first 20% of each day's orders going to those areas. (Naylor, 1/18)
CNN: Website To Order Free Covid-19 Tests Is Up And Running
Given the formal launch wasn't expected until Wednesday, a White House official said this is only the beta phase to ensure the site works seamlessly. Omicron might mark the end of Covid-19's pandemic phase -- unless a certain scenario happens, Fauci says "In alignment with website launch best practices, COVIDtests.gov is currently in its beta phase, which means that the website is operating at limited capacity ahead of its official launch," a White House official told CNN. "This is standard practice to address troubleshooting and ensure as smooth of an official launch tomorrow as possible. We expect the website to officially launch mid-morning tomorrow." (Collins, Vazquez and Luhby, 1/18)
The Hill: How To Order Free Rapid COVID-19 Tests
Any American can order rapid tests for free through the website, and they will be delivered by the U.S. Postal Service. All that is required is a name and mailing address; no credit card information is needed. However, there are limits. Each residential address is limited to four tests. And the tests will usually take seven to 12 days to ship, the White House said. (Sullivan, 1/18)
AP: Website For Free Virus Tests Is Here. How Does It Work?
Free tests can be ordered at covidtests.gov or at usps.com/covidtest. The first tests will ship by the end of January. The White House says “tests will typically ship within 7-12 days of ordering” through the U.S. Postal Service. USPS reports shipping times of 1-3 days for its first-class package service in the continental United States. Shipments to Alaska, Hawaii, Army Post Office (APO), Fleet Post Office (FPO) and Diplomatic Post Office (DPO) addresses will be sent through Priority Mail. (Miller and Superville, 1/19)
KHN: 5 Things You Should Know About ‘Free’ At-Home Covid Tests
Americans keep hearing that it is important to test frequently for covid-19 at home. But just try to find an “at-home” rapid covid test in a store and at a price that makes frequent tests affordable. Testing, as well as mask-wearing, is an important measure if the country ever hopes to beat covid, restore normal routines and get the economy running efficiently. To get Americans cheaper tests, the federal government now plans to have insurance companies pay for them. (Darlin, 1/19)
The rollout has some hiccups —
Politico: Biden Administration's Rapid Testing Website Hits Speed Bumps For Some Apartment Residents
Some residents in multi-unit dwellings tried to register to have tests delivered but received error messages saying tests already had been ordered for their address. An administration official said the problem was not widespread and that orders are being prioritized for people in areas facing disproportionate Covid-19 cases and deaths — the first 20 percent of test orders processed will be for people in vulnerable ZIP codes. (Leonard, 1/18)
CNBC: Some Americans Blocked From Ordering Biden's Free Covid Tests In Early Website Launch
Americans on Tuesday started placing orders for free Covid tests promised by the Biden administration after the federal government rolled out the website a day earlier than expected — with some complaining on social media that they were blocked from ordering the tests. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the website, covidtests.gov, is in its testing phase and will officially launch Wednesday morning. Orders placed during the website’s testing phase Tuesday are valid and will be shipped, White House spokesman Kevin Munoz told CNBC. (Kimball, 1/18)
