Testing, testing: Biden administration launches at home testing website but limits families to maximum of four free tests (and they won’t be shipped until END of January)
- White House says COVIDTests.gov site is live ahead of Wednesday’s launch
- Jen Psaki said it was in ‘beta testing’ before being officially launched
- People can order four tests which will be delivered by the U.S. Postal Service
- Anyone needing more than four – or who need immediate results – is told to seek other source of tests
- ‘We can’t guarantee there won’t be a bug or two,’ cautioned Psaki
- Traffic surged on Wednesday and it accounted for more than half of all traffic to government websites
The Biden administration launched its website for ordering at-home COVID tests without fanfare on Tuesday, a day before it was scheduled to officially open.
The website, COVIDTests.gov, includes a link for Americans to order up to four tests per residential address, to be delivered by the U.S. Postal Service.
Although it is a central part of President Joe Biden‘s pandemic response, it still means families of four or more, or people in need of urgent results will have to look for other sources of tests.
And the packs will not start shipping until late in the month.
During her regular briefing on Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said the site was operating at limited capacity.
‘It will officially launch tomorrow morning,’ she said.
‘It’s in the beta testing phase right now.’
Traffic to the site surged as news of the soft launch spread, until it represented more than half of all traffic to administration websites.
The Biden administration opened its website for free at-home tests without fanfare on Tuesday
USers who need a COVID-19 test now, or need more than four tests, are directed elsewhere
The site offers advice for people on when and how to best use the tests
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said it was undergoing ‘beta testing’ head of an official launch on Wednesday
Biden announced last month that his administration would buy 500 million tests to kickstart the scheme.
On Thursday, he said he doubling the order to one billion tests.
However, Americans in need of urgent results will have to seek other options because of shipping times.
‘Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order four free at-home COVID-19 tests,’ says the website.
‘The tests are completely free. Orders will usually ship in 7-12 days.
‘Order your tests now so you have them when you need them.’
Social media quickly filled up with people welcoming the move and passing on the link to the new website.
But at the same time, dozens more asked what families of more than four should do.
Although many people to Twitter to welcome the news, others pointed out that bigger families or households of more than four would still have to look elsewhere for tests
Anyone clicking on a button to order tests is directed to the United States Postal Service and can check out with a pack of four tests at zero cost.
‘COVID-19 tests will start shipping in late January,’ it says after orders are placed.
Psaki said the beta testing was designed to provide users with the best service but admitted that teething troubles were possible.
‘We didn’t start from scratch here, of course,’ she said.
‘The Postal Service already runs a website that sells goods to the public. As you know, every website launch and our view comes with risk.
‘We can’t guarantee there won’t be a bug or two. But the best tech teams across the administration and the Postal Service are working hard to make this a success.’
Traffic to the website surged as news of its soft launch spread, increasing to the point where it accounted for more than half of all traffic to government websites
Since Saturday, private insurance companies have been required to cover the cost of at-home rapid tests, allowing Americans to be reimbursed for tests they purchase at pharmacies and online retailers. That covers up to eight tests per month.
The administration has been under intense pressure to increase the availability of tests.
The spread of the Omicron variant generated shortages at pharmacies over the holiday season.
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