The state Department of Public Health is encouraging residents to order free COVID-19 test kits at home once the federal government makes them available again next week.
This comes after the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced Wednesday that starting Monday, Sept. 25, households will be able to order up to four free tests through COVIDTests.gov.
The state Department of Public Health said the test, which will be used until the end of the year, will detect currently circulating variants.
It also urges residents to use the COVIDTests.gov site to check if the expiration date of any test kits they already have at home has been extended.
“These at-home tests are a critical component of the COVID-19 toolbox at our disposal,” Connecticut Public Health Director Dr. Manisha Jutani said in a statement.
She also urges people to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
“In addition to these at-home tests, everyone over six months of age is eligible to receive the latest coronavirus vaccine,” she added.
Public Health is asking residents to get the latest COVID-19 and influenza shots at the same time by contacting their health care provider or making an appointment at a retail pharmacy and visiting www.vaccines.gov People are being urged to visit the website to find a vaccination site for the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19). And the influenza vaccine.
The CDC’s Bridge Access program is free for a limited time for uninsured adults ages 18 to 64 and adults whose insurance does not cover the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the state Department of Public Health. provide COVID-19 vaccines. Information is available online at www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/bridge.
The state’s public health commissioner urges people with fever and respiratory symptoms to stay home and consider wearing high-quality masks if there are high levels of respiratory viruses circulating in the community. I am calling on you to do so.