COVID-19 home test kits will be available free of charge
Starting in late September, the federal government will ship free COVID-19 home tests through COVIDTests.gov.
Wisconsin residents can order up to four COVID-19 tests in September as the virus spreads across the state. In Wisconsin, wastewater monitoring has shown a “high” or “very high” level of COVID-19.
This is the seventh time in the past three years that the government has provided free testing kits to Americans, health officials said last week. The revival of the program came shortly after the Food and Drug Administration authorized updated COVID-19 vaccines for use in the fall.
How to order free COVID-19 tests in Wisconsin:
COVID-19 tests can be ordered online at COVIDtest.gov starting in late September.
All U.S. households can order up to four COVID-19 tests for free.
When and where: How to get the latest COVID-19 vaccines in Wisconsin
Can the tests detect new variants of COVID-19?
According to Dawn O’Connell, assistant secretary for preparedness and response at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the latest rounds of free testing will be able to detect the currently prevalent variants of COVID-19.
Where to buy COVID-19 tests in Wisconsin:
People without health insurance who have symptoms of COVID-19 or have been exposed to the virus can get tested at about a dozen free testing sites in the Milwaukee area. Most of these testing sites are located in Walgreens stores.
You can find the nearest free testing location on the CDC’s testing locator page. Some insurance plans also cover free COVID-19 testing, and you can order it through Walgreens by providing your insurance information.
COVID-19 tests are available at CVS, Walgreens and other retailers. Kits can cost between $16 and $24 for a pack of two tests.
How to use COVID-19 home tests:
You can take a COVID-19 test at home by following the instructions on the package and get results in 30 minutes or less.
Most COVID-19 tests have extended expiration dates. You can check if your COVID-19 test has expired on the FDA website, which has information about approved home diagnostic tests and expiration dates.
RELATED: What vaccinations are required in Wisconsin before children start school in the fall?
What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
Typical COVID-19 symptoms can appear two to 14 days after exposure to the COVID-19 virus. People with COVID-19 may have few symptoms or none at all. For some people, symptoms may progress about seven to 14 days after symptoms begin. According to the Mayo Clinic, COVID-19 symptoms may include:
- Dry cough
- shortness of breath
- Loss of taste and smell
- Extreme tiredness, also called exhaustion
- Digestive problems such as upset stomach, vomiting or diarrhea
- Pain, such as headache, limb or muscle pain
- Fever or chills
- Cold-like symptoms such as a stuffy nose, runny nose or sore throat
USA TODAY contributed to this report.
