In response to the Omicron variant, a highly transmissible strain of COVID-19, the Biden-Harris Administration launched a website where rapid COVID tests can be ordered. As part of an initiative to alleviate the demand for rapid tests and curb the spread of the pandemic, any residential address in the United States and its territories is entitled to four free tests. 

To order at-home COVID tests, go to COVIDtests.gov. If your access to the internet is limited, a call line at 1-800-232-0233 has been established for support. It opens to an information screen, where a button to place a test order is one of the first things on the page.

Next, the website will ask for your first and last name, your email address for tracking purposes, and your household address. After confirming the shipping information, the order will be placed.

The distributed COVID tests are self-administered and produce results in 30 minutes or less. FDA-authorized tests will indicate the presence of antigens in the body and whether or not you are contagious. Orders will begin shipping the week of Jan. 24 and are expected to arrive between 7-12 days. Any issues with delivery should be reported to USPS.

Guidance from the CDC says that rapid self-testing is effective five days after close contact exposure and can confirm if any symptoms, such as a loss of taste or smell, a sore throat or a fever are a result of COVID. These antigen tests are also recommended to take prior to gathering
with large groups of people.

For Oak Park students who receive positive results outside of school, a Google Form has been created to report on close contacts and COVID positives. Students who test through any school’s on-campus testing services do not need to submit this form. The district’s COVID webpage then instructs an email to be sent to [email protected] with more details on the student’s positive case.

COVIDtests.gov encourages everyone to get vaccinated, mask up and continue to social distance. 

“Testing is only one step you can take to protect yourself, friends, family and others,” the website says.