This post is pertains to those having a residential postal address in the United States or certain U.S. affiliated territories and countries. As part of a federal program to provide free at-home COVID-19 tests with free shipping to every residential address in the U.S., the site for ordering free at-home antigen tests for Covid-19 is now live.  

Go to this United States Parcel Service (USPS) website to place an order. Each residence is entitled to receive one order of four tests. Orders cannot be shipped outside of the United States. Shipments to APO/FPO/DPO addresses and U.S. territories and possessions are included in the program. Tests cannot be ordered for business addresses or business PO Boxes. Orders will ship free via USPS starting in late January.

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USPS Covid-19 test order form

Order confirmation and tracking information will be available if an email address is provided with the order. A list of eligible territories, possessions and freely associated Pacific island countries is here.

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RapiGEN Biocredit Covid-19 Ag test kit.

I hope the USPS kits come with instructions that are legible.  In Thailand, I had to find a YouTube video that explained how to administer the test.  The USPS kits hopefully will also contain some guidance on the circumstances that should prompt taking these tests.

The tests are fast.  Once I figured out the process, getting a result took only five minutes.

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My negative test result.

At one time, widespread, repetitive testing was viewed as potentially a way around lockdowns and other Covid-19 restrictions.  During a pandemic it is prudent to assume that everyone is infected unless you know they aren’t.  If through a comprehensive testing regimen it was possible to identify who is infected and who isn’t, many of the restrictions we are fed up with might become unnecessary and spread would be greatly reduced. 

I’ve ordered.  I wish more than four tests were available, but four is better than none.  What do you think of this program?