On Tuesday, Michael Johnson posted a message to Facebook reminding his friends to check the U.S. Postal Service’s website beginning Wednesday for their chance to get four free rapid COVID tests.
“After I posted, I checked the website, and it was working, so I sent in my request and changed my post to, ‘Do it now,’” said Johnson.
According the White House website, the Biden Administration announced Jan. 14 the purchase of one billion, at-home rapid tests to give to Americans at no cost to them.
“A half-billion tests will be available for order on Jan. 19 and will be mailed directly to American households,” the website said.
Former Augusta Mayor Bob Young also signed up Tuesday for his four tests, which are difficult to find in stores.
Young and his wife, Gwen, are vaccinated and have received booster shots, but he likened having the test in his house to having bandages.
“It’s prudent to have them on the shelf,” he said of the COVID-19 tests. “It’s like having Band-Aids. If you cut your finger, you need them.”
While he doesn’t make it a regular habit of testing if he had symptoms, he said he would want the peace of mind to be able to perform the test at home.
The White House website said the tests will ship within seven to 12 days of ordering.
According to the usps.com website, only one set of four COVID-19 tests will be delivered to a valid address, and the first tests will begin shipping at the end of January. Get the tests at https://special.usps.com/testkits
“Testing is an important tool to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Public health experts and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that Americans use at-home tests if they begin to have symptoms, at least five days after coming in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 or are gathering indoors with a group of people who are at risk of severe disease or unvaccinated,” according to the White House website.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the Managing Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com
