State reopens website for free COVID-19 tests

Washington residents can now order up to five at-home COVID-19 tests that will be shipped to their doorstep free of charge while supplies last.

The Washington State Department of Health announced Monday that www.sayyescovidhometest.org, the website where Washington residents can order free COVID-19 rapid-antigen tests, has reopened. Tests are expected to arrive within a few days after being ordered. The only information needed to order a test is your name and address.

The state opened the website for the first time Jan. 21. Within eight hours of launching, all 1.4 million tests available had been claimed. Those tests were sent to 340,000 households. Currently, there are enough tests to be sent to 120,000 households, according to the Washington State Department of Health.

This program is in addition to the federal program which also allows each household to order a set of four at-home tests. To order tests through the federal program, visit www.COVIDtests.gov.

“Increasing access to rapid tests is an important part of slowing the spread of COVID-19, because when more people use home tests, they’re able to limit their contact with others when they test positive,” Washington State Department of Health Deputy Secretary Lacy Fehrenbach said in a news release. “Knowing your status is key —i f you test positive, you should stay home from school or work.”