In response to a resurgence of COVID cases across the United States, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has announced it will deliver millions of additional at-home COVID tests to households nationwide.
The effort is part of a new phase in the federal government's pandemic response, aiming to provide greater access to testing as health officials monitor rising infection rates amid the colder months.
"In collaboration with the White House and the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, USPS will facilitate the distribution of these test kits through COVIDTests.gov, where people can order their kits at no cost," the announcement said.
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In the first week since ordering began on September 26, the USPS has shipped more than 12 million kits, with an expected 6 million set to be delivered to households across the U.S.
U.S. households, including in U.S. territories, can request up to four free tests through the government's website or by phone. According to the USPS, the service delivers more mail than any other postal service worldwide, serving nearly 167 million addresses in the United States.
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Additional funds have been allocated to support the nationwide initiative, following criticism earlier in the pandemic of delays in distribution and test shortages.
The latest initiative is one of many from the USPS, which played a crucial role in distributing free at-home test kits across the nation, since the program began in the winter of 2021. To date, "ASPR and USPS have distributed approximately 900 million tests, free of charge, to American households nationwide, with an average of just 1.2 days from shipment to delivery," the statement said.
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Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said: "The distribution of these at-home test kits is a vital public health initiative from the Department of Health and Human Services. We are proud to continue our partnership in ensuring that every household has access to the resources they need to stay safe and healthy."
On Thursday, a USPS announcement noted that, together with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Postal Service paid tribute to the health care community on the same day with a new commemorative "Forever" stamp.
A special dedication ceremony was held at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Hubert H. Humphrey building in Washington, D.C., according to the announcement.
"The Thank You Healthcare Community stamp is special—it recognizes the tremendous work by all health workers across the country. And it comes with our memory of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the critical role that health workers played, still fresh in our minds," said Xavier Becerra, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
"Having a stamp issued to commemorate the work of those across the health sector is a tremendous honor. It is an honor that is well deserved."
This and the renewed distribution effort comes as COVID-19 hospitalizations and infections have begun to rise again, driven by new variants and increased indoor activity during fall.
Federal health agencies have urged Americans to take preventive measures, including getting the updated COVID-19 vaccine booster and maintaining awareness through regular testing, especially for those in vulnerable populations.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), COVID cases are on the rise, and current hotspots include the states of Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina and New York, all of which have seen a substantial increase in cases in the week up to September 26. West Virginia had the highest percentage increase from the previous week, with almost 7 percent of deaths that week attributed to COVID.
Public health experts emphasize the importance of testing, particularly before attending large gatherings or visiting high-risk individuals, as an effective way to slow the spread of the virus.
As stated on the American Medical Association (AMA) website, additional free tests will be made available at community sites, including libraries, food banks and long-term care facilities. AMA also says that updated vaccines target the strain of the virus called KP.2, although the dominant variant is now KP.3.1.1.
Newsweek reached out to AMA online for comment on Thursday.
Update 10/4/24, 3:22 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
