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You Can Now Order Free Covid Tests Online From the U.S. Government

U.S. says site at limited capacity ahead of Wednesday rollout
Households to receive four test kits upon placing orders

A cotton swab from a Covid-19 self-test kit. — A cotton swab from a Covid-19 self-test kit.
Photographer: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg

By

Jennifer Epstein and

January 18, 2022, 5:55 PM UTCUpdated onJanuary 18, 2022, 7:49 PM UTC

The Biden administration’s program to send free Covid-19 tests to U.S. households informally launched on Tuesday to prepare for its official rollout on Wednesday.

The website to request tests, CovidTests.gov, is operating at limited capacity to accept orders. The early launch is standard practice to troubleshoot, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Tuesday.