Where can I order at-home covid-19 tests?

Free at-home covid-19 tests can be ordered from the Biden administration’s website, covidtests.gov. Orders are expected to ship in seven to 12 days via the United States Postal Service (USPS). 

On Jan. 21, the Biden administration opened a phone line for ordering tests to assist those who have difficulties accessing the internet or need additional help placing their order. The phone number is 1-800-232-0233. 

How many tests am I able to order?

Each residential address can order four, free at-home tests using the government website. Private health care insurance plans are now also required to cover the costs of at-home, over-the-counter covid tests, as of Jan. 15. Each covered individual can be reimbursed for up to eight tests per month and up to $12 per test. 

What types of covid tests are the government providing?

The at-home covid tests available on the U.S. government’s website are rapid antigen tests. Rapid tests generally give results within 30-minutes and can be used regardless of vaccine status and symptoms. However, these tests can give false negatives and should be used only if a PCR test is not accessible. Some at-home tests recommend testing every 2-3 days, in a process known as serial testing, to ensure accuracy. 

What if I don’t have a residential address?

The Biden administration has not yet addressed the lack of resources for people facing homelessness. However, there are a number of free pop-up covid testing sites around the city of Philadelphia. Organizations such as the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium and Philadelphia FIGHT hold free covid testing events. 

Where can I get a covid test on campus?

The university provides testing at the Student Health Center for students who have covid symptoms. Students experiencing covid symptoms during non-working hours, or hours in which the Health Center is not open, will be taken to Main Line Health Urgent Care with transportation provided by St. Joe’s.

The university is not currently offering asymptomatic testing on-campus, but the university is “finalizing plans to host an ongoing campus testing clinic on Wednesdays which will be run by the Nursing class from Temple University,” Cary Anderson, Ed.D., associate provost and vice president for Student Life, wrote in response to written questions from The Hawk.