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The federal government has paused orders for free at-home COVID-19 tests, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). While the agency has not provided an explanation for the decision, the HHSCovidTest.gov website confirms that any orders placed before 8 p.m. Eastern on Sunday will still be shipped. It remains unclear if the program is permanently discontinued.

Despite this halt, at-home COVID-19 tests are still available for purchase at major grocery and pharmacy chains nationwide.

This announcement comes on a significant date—the fifth anniversary of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) pandemic classification for COVID-19. The WHO declared the outbreak a global public health emergency, leading to widespread public health measures across the world.

COVID-19 remains one of the most devastating pandemics in modern history. As of June 2024, the virus had claimed nearly 1.2 million lives in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The last pandemic prior to COVID-19 was the 2009 H1N1 flu, which resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths worldwide.

For those still in need of at-home testing options, local pharmacies and grocery stores continue to stock COVID-19 test kits for purchase.

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Federal Government Halts Free At-Home COVID-19 Test Orders