Americans can order free COVID-19 tests starting this month

WASHINGTON (AP) — Starting this month, Americans can order free COVID-19 test kits to be sent to their homes.

When the federal program resumes, U.S. households will be able to order up to four nasal swab tests from COVIDTests.gov. The U.S. health agency that oversees the program has not yet announced an exact date when ordering can begin.

An agency spokesman said the tests would detect current virus strains and could be ordered before the holiday season when families and friends gather for celebrations.

U.S. authorities last month approved an updated COVID-19 vaccine designed to combat recent strains of the virus and hopefully upcoming winter strains, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has already recommended the shot for everyone 6 months of age and older this fall.

While most Americans have some level of immunity from previous infection or vaccination or both, that protection is waning. Last fall's vaccinations targeted a different part of the coronavirus family tree, a strain that is no longer circulating.

Kits can be ordered online.