# COVIDtest.gov is up and taking orders (site for free covid tests - program restarted Sept 2023),) **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [January 18, 2022, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covidtest-gov-is-up-and-taking-orders-site-for-free-covid-tests-program-restarted-sept-2023/958015 "2022-01-18T19:27:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covidtest-gov-is-up-and-taking-orders-site-for-free-covid-tests-program-restarted-sept-2023/958015/101 "2022-02-19T00:45:00Z")
Got mine a few days ago (not sure exact day, as it was placed in my non mailbox box on my front porch) Bruan ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covidtest-gov-is-up-and-taking-orders-site-for-free-covid-tests-program-restarted-sept-2023/958015/102 "2022-02-19T00:46:00Z")
Hi, Bruan! I like your new name. It’s distinctive! ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covidtest-gov-is-up-and-taking-orders-site-for-free-covid-tests-program-restarted-sept-2023/958015/103 "2022-02-19T00:48:02Z")
Darn tablet “keyboard” Brian ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covidtest-gov-is-up-and-taking-orders-site-for-free-covid-tests-program-restarted-sept-2023/958015/104 "2022-02-19T19:58:26Z")
Mine finally arrived on Thursday ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covidtest-gov-is-up-and-taking-orders-site-for-free-covid-tests-program-restarted-sept-2023/958015/105 "2022-02-19T19:59:21Z")
My kit arrived today. ---
**Author:** ![Tfletch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tfletch1/32/5340_2.png) [@Tfletch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tfletch1)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2022, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covidtest-gov-is-up-and-taking-orders-site-for-free-covid-tests-program-restarted-sept-2023/958015/106 "2022-02-20T01:32:26Z")
> [@Tfletch1](#): > > I already have a box of two rapid tests that I ordered before they announced we could get them for free. Just ordered my free tests anyway. I don’t have a delivery date yet. I get PCR tested weekly at work. Mine’s already coming this Thursday. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2022, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covidtest-gov-is-up-and-taking-orders-site-for-free-covid-tests-program-restarted-sept-2023/958015/107 "2022-02-20T03:28:45Z")
Our kits arrived today. They’re kind of smelly. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2022, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covidtest-gov-is-up-and-taking-orders-site-for-free-covid-tests-program-restarted-sept-2023/958015/108 "2022-02-20T11:57:08Z")
Ours arrived yesterday. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2022, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covidtest-gov-is-up-and-taking-orders-site-for-free-covid-tests-program-restarted-sept-2023/958015/109 "2022-02-20T18:59:18Z")
Just got a 5 day notice. Will check early each day so it’s not sitting around in the cold. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2022, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covidtest-gov-is-up-and-taking-orders-site-for-free-covid-tests-program-restarted-sept-2023/958015/110 "2022-02-20T19:01:00Z")
> [@JohnGalt](#): > > Our kits arrived today. They’re kind of smelly. That’s a good sign you don’t have covid but why are they smelly? They shouldn’t smell like anything. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2022, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covidtest-gov-is-up-and-taking-orders-site-for-free-covid-tests-program-restarted-sept-2023/958015/111 "2022-02-22T13:42:37Z")
FWIW, I just got my notification for delivery this coming Friday. I ordered on Jan 18th. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2022, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covidtest-gov-is-up-and-taking-orders-site-for-free-covid-tests-program-restarted-sept-2023/958015/112 "2022-02-22T14:49:02Z")
I got two emails this morning: one saying to expect delivery by the 26th, the other saying that it’s out for delivery today (the 22nd). Mail’s not here yet. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2022, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covidtest-gov-is-up-and-taking-orders-site-for-free-covid-tests-program-restarted-sept-2023/958015/113 "2022-02-22T14:53:16Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > > [@JohnGalt](#): > > > > Our kits arrived today. They’re kind of smelly. > > That’s a good sign you don’t have covid but why are they smelly? I expected the test to be more sophisticated than “if you can smell this, you don’t have COVID”… ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2022, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covidtest-gov-is-up-and-taking-orders-site-for-free-covid-tests-program-restarted-sept-2023/958015/114 "2022-02-22T14:56:30Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Ours arrived yesterday It was funny. Saturday morning I looked at my email. There was a USPS announcement (from informed delivery) that my package was en route and should be received within 5 days. The email sent minutes later said it would be delivered that day, then a follow up email said it had been delivered. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2022, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covidtest-gov-is-up-and-taking-orders-site-for-free-covid-tests-program-restarted-sept-2023/958015/115 "2022-02-22T20:19:25Z")
I received a 2nd email yesterday saying it would arrive Today. And it did. So that was 30 days for me. The email communication looks like it improved a little. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2022, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covidtest-gov-is-up-and-taking-orders-site-for-free-covid-tests-program-restarted-sept-2023/958015/116 "2022-02-22T21:18:19Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > I got two emails this morning: one saying to expect delivery by the 26th, the other saying that it’s out for delivery today (the 22nd). Mail’s not here yet. They were indeed in the mail. I presume they’ll work even if you don’t download the app? I have no device that scans codes to download apps. They’re dated to use by July 23 of this year. And they don’t smell. Or at any rate I don’t know whether they smell if you open the inner pouch to actually use them, after which they’re only good for an hour; but they certainly don’t smell if you only open them far enough to read over the instructions. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2022, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covidtest-gov-is-up-and-taking-orders-site-for-free-covid-tests-program-restarted-sept-2023/958015/117 "2022-02-23T01:18:38Z")
They’re like a pregnancy test. No app needed, just the appropriate fluid. ---
**Author:** ![Tfletch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tfletch1/32/5340_2.png) [@Tfletch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tfletch1)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2022, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covidtest-gov-is-up-and-taking-orders-site-for-free-covid-tests-program-restarted-sept-2023/958015/118 "2022-02-23T01:51:27Z")
> [@Tfletch1](#): > > Mine’s already coming this Thursday. Just got mine a day early. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2022, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covidtest-gov-is-up-and-taking-orders-site-for-free-covid-tests-program-restarted-sept-2023/958015/119 "2022-02-23T02:01:22Z")
Same here; got the same two emails, and they arrived today. No smell, and both boxes have a use by date of July 24. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2022, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covidtest-gov-is-up-and-taking-orders-site-for-free-covid-tests-program-restarted-sept-2023/958015/120 "2022-02-24T18:36:37Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > They’re dated to use by July 23 of this year. my use by date is July 27. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covidtest-gov-is-up-and-taking-orders-site-for-free-covid-tests-program-restarted-sept-2023/958015.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covidtest-gov-is-up-and-taking-orders-site-for-free-covid-tests-program-restarted-sept-2023/958015.md?page=7)