The Biden administration announced on Wednesday that it will once again provide free at-home Covid tests to American households starting Monday, in response to the increasing spread of the virus across the nation.

Through COVIDtests.gov, Americans will soon have the option to request four complimentary tests as stated by the administration in a press release.

Although the government had previously offered free test kits through the website since January 2022, it temporarily halted the distribution on June 1 to conserve supplies.

The relaunch of the program aims to address the expected rise in Covid cases during the fall and winter seasons, which historically witness higher transmission rates. The recent surge in Covid hospitalizations, lasting for eight consecutive weeks, is predominantly attributed to the emergence of new virus variants.

The Biden administration emphasized that the at-home tests that will be delivered are capable of detecting the currently circulating Covid variants. The kits are intended for use until the end of 2023 and will include instructions on how to verify if a test’s expiration date has been extended.

Testing plays a crucial role in safeguarding against Covid infections as cases rise once again. However, traditional lab PCR tests, which have been the primary method for detecting the virus, have become more expensive and less accessible for some Americans since the US government terminated the public health emergency in May.

The termination of the declaration also resulted in changes to how public and private insurers cover the costs of at-home tests, potentially leaving certain individuals unable to obtain these tests for free through their health plans. Nevertheless, several local health clinics and community sites still offer free at-home tests to the public.

In addition, the Biden administration announced a $600 million investment to enhance the manufacturing capacity of 12 Covid test manufacturers nationwide, with an estimated acquisition of 200 million tests from these companies.

“These critical investments will strengthen our nation’s production levels of domestic at-home COVID-19 rapid tests and help mitigate the spread of the virus,” stated Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra.