Each household can get four free Covid-19 tests, and some older tests are still good; plus a Covid 'refresher'

U.S. Government photo illustration

Just in time for the cold and flu season the federal government has relaunched its at-home Covid-19 test program. Every U.S. household is eligible for four free test kits sent directly from the U.S. Postal Service, but some older tests might also still be good, too. The easiest way to order kits is through covidtests.gov. "Officials say the tests are able to detect the latest variants and are intended to be used through the end of the year," reports Fenit Nirappil of The Washington Post. "The return of the free testing program comes after Americans navigated the latest uptick in covid cases with free testing no longer widely available."

Keep in mind many antigen tests have extended expiration dates, so tests purchased or received earlier could still be usable, reports Meryl Davids Landau of National Geographic. Check the chart available here to see if yours is still effective.

As temperatures dip and holiday seasons approach, people will spend more time inside. "Experts say free coronavirus testing proved to be an effective public health tool, allowing people to check their status before attending large gatherings or spending time with older or medically vulnerable people at risk of severe disease even after being vaccinated," Nirappil reports. "It also enables people to start antiviral treatments in the early days of infection to prevent severe disease."

If you have forgotten some of the testing details, Landau gives a brief Q & A "refresher."

Swab the throat or the nose? It turns out nasal samples concentrate more of the virus and are therefore more likely to yield a positive diagnosis.

Can you get sick within days of SARS-CoV-2 exposure? A recent study in France confirmed what people are feeling, that those exposed to Omicron develop symptoms earlier than they did after exposure to the original SARS-CoV-2 strain. . . . It’s possible that the incubation period is shorter due to the mutations.

How long should you isolate if testing positive for Covid? Whether a person has a positive test or is likely to have the disease based on symptoms and exposure, it’s crucial they go home and immediately isolate from everyone, including people with whom they live. . . . This isolation should continue for a minimum of five days, which starts the day after the positive test or the appearance of symptoms, according to the Center for Disease Control.

When is masking after isolation necessary? Once in public, the individual must wear a high-quality mask until 10 days have passed since symptoms began or testing positive. Remember: the first day is day zero. This is important because the sick person could be contagious for a full 10 days.

Who should take the antiviral drug Paxlovid? Those who are most likely to face hospitalization and death should talk with their healthcare provider about taking the antiviral medicine, Paxlovid, which continues to be effective against current strains.

Should you get the new vaccine? The Federal Drug Administration and CDC recently approved new Covid vaccines for people six months and older. The benefits of vaccination outweigh side-effect risks for all these age groups, the CDC noted.

How else can you protect yourself? Avoiding crowds and masking remain extremely effective protection measures, but most people don’t need to do them 24/7.