COVID-19 tests: Order free home tests, get a PCR test at one of these Idaho sites, more

Omicron is confounding the medical community with its rapid spread and efficiency at evading vaccines. The best way to stay on top of it is to know your status: Have you been exposed? Are you infected?

Here’s what we know.

As of Jan. 19, you can order four COVID-19 at-home rapid test kits that will be paid for by the U.S. government. The Biden administration purchased the 1 billion tests because the omicron variant can evade the current vaccines and spread more readily. The first 500 million tests are online. Click here to order.

If you’ve had a home test but it’s inconclusive, or you think you got a false result, you can head for one of several free testing sites in the Treasure Valley run by area hospitals, pharmacies and nonprofits. Here’s a list.

If you’re not sure if you’ve been exposed, and you feel crummy, you might want to get tested. What are the symptoms, how long do you wait before you get tested? Here’s what to know:

Does what kind of mask you use matter? The short answer is yes. Here’s what the experts say.

If you’re having trouble finding tests, let us know below.

This story was originally published January 18, 2022 at 4:24 PM.