US President Joe Biden says that the federal government will buy five hundred million COVID-19 rapid test kits and distribute them free of cost to people to use at home. Even Though there is a high public demand for these tests, they will be shipped only later, maybe by this weekend. The federal administration is doing calculations and examining the details for making the program happen without faults.

Does the Federal Government have the Tests?

As of now, there are no tests available. White House press secretary, Jen Psaki, said that during this week, the departments of Defense and Health and Human Services were “executing on what’s called an ‘accelerated emergency contract,’” the. The contract is expected to be inked soon.

What Time will the Test Kits be Delivered? 

The very first delivery is expected in early January. They will be delivered in batches. So all the half a billion kits will not arrive at the same time.

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How can one get a Free Kit from the US Government?

You’ll have to go to a newly created government website to request a kit. Psaki said that the site won’t be functional until the first batch of test kits has been delivered. She added that the process was being handled in such a way as to avoid creating more confusion for the public. But the main idea is that if anyone wants a test kit, then he would log onto this website to request one.

Psaki said that they are not going to put the website up until there are tests available.

Which Home Test will I Get?

That information is unclear as of now. Psaki noted that the US Food and Drug Administration has already approved several different brands of rapid home tests by different companies that are currently available on the market.

Will I be limited to just one Test or Can I request Multiple? 

Psaki said that this query is not yet decided. She said that the information about the same would be updated later.

Why is Biden buying these home-based Test Kits?

These actions by the federal government represent an acknowledgment by the president that the administration is doing enough to increase access to Covid-19 testing, which is an important tool to help slow the spread of the covid virus.

In cases when infected people show some symptoms or not, testing is the only way we can find out whether they have the virus or not. Timely actions can avoid being out and about and potentially spreading the disease. 

But demand for test kits has soared as the Christmas holidays neared and people wanted to test themselves and their families before their holiday traveling and because of the new threat of the rapid spread of  the easily transmissible omicron variant of coronavirus,people are also concerned very much

Biden’s promise of 500 million test kits is in addition to the federal administration’s earlier promise to send 50 million rapid tests to community health centers across the United States of America.

What is the Estimated Cost of the Program?

The purchase will be paid for with money from the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill Biden signed into law in March, the White House said. The exact cost will be known soon.

Is there another Way to get a Test for Free? 

Biden said in a speech Tuesday that, starting in January, private insurers will cover the cost of at-home testing. So people will have the option of buying tests at a nearby store or online platforms and then they could seek reimbursement from their health insurance provider.

Biden said that the government will also be providing access to free at-home tests for people who are not having health insurance.