History of COVIDtests.gov in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: September 28, 2024

COVIDtests.gov is a website allowing American residents, including those receiving US diplomatic and military mail, to order free COVID-19 rapid antigen tests from the US government. Initially set to open for orders on January 19, 2022, it launched a day early on January 18. The program was paused in September 2022 to conserve the remaining supply for a potential winter surge, resuming on December 15, 2022. It was suspended again on May 11, 2023, when the US ended the Covid-19 public health emergency, and relaunched on September 25, 2023, due to a late summer rise in Covid cases.

December 2021: President Biden Announces Initiative for Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests

In December 2021, President Joe Biden revealed a plan to launch a website for Americans to order free at-home COVID-19 tests.

January 12, 2022: White House Announces Upcoming Launch of COVID-19 Test Ordering Website

On January 12, 2022, the White House announced that a website for ordering free at-home COVID-19 tests would be launched by the following weekend.

January 19, 2022: COVIDtests.gov Launch Date Announced

On January 19, 2022, it was announced that COVIDtests.gov, a website for ordering free at-home COVID-19 tests, would launch and start accepting orders.

March 2022: Second Round of Free COVID-19 Tests Available on COVIDtests.gov

The Biden administration announced a second round of free at-home COVID-19 tests in March 2022, allowing American households to order four more tests through COVIDtests.gov.

May 2022: Third Round of Free COVID-19 Tests Offered Through COVIDtests.gov

In May 2022, a third round of free at-home COVID-19 tests was made available through COVIDtests.gov, with American households eligible to order eight more tests.

September 2022: COVIDtests.gov Program Suspended to Prepare for Potential Winter Wave

In September 2022, the COVIDtests.gov program was temporarily suspended to conserve the remaining test supply in anticipation of a possible winter surge in COVID-19 cases.

December 15, 2022: COVIDtests.gov Relaunched After Suspension

Following a suspension to secure supplies, COVIDtests.gov was relaunched on December 15, 2022, allowing American households to order four free tests.

December 2022: COVIDtests.gov Relaunched with Reduced Number of Free Tests

When COVIDtests.gov was relaunched in December 2022, the number of free tests available per American household was reset to four, and previous orders did not carry over.

May 11, 2023: COVIDtests.gov Suspended as Public Health Emergency Ends

The COVIDtests.gov program was suspended on May 11, 2023, coinciding with the end of the Covid-19 public health emergency in the United States.

September 2023: COVIDtests.gov Relaunch Offers Four Free Tests Per Household

The September 2023 relaunch of COVIDtests.gov provided American households with the option to order four free at-home COVID-19 tests, with no carryover from earlier orders.

September 25, 2023: COVIDtests.gov Relaunched Amidst Rising COVID-19 Cases

COVIDtests.gov was relaunched on September 25, 2023, in response to a late summer surge in COVID-19 cases, offering American households the opportunity to order four free tests.

November 20, 2023: Additional Free COVID-19 Tests Offered Through COVIDtests.gov

On November 20, 2023, the Biden administration announced the availability of four additional free COVID-19 tests per American household through COVIDtests.gov, supplementing any unclaimed tests from September.

August 2024: Biden Administration Plans to Relaunch Free At-Home COVID-19 Test Distribution

In August 2024, the Biden administration announced plans to reactivate the distribution of free at-home COVID-19 tests at the end of September, citing a summer rise in COVID-19 cases and the approaching fall respiratory virus season.