This September, U.S. households will again be able to order up to 4 COVID-19 nasal-swab tests from COVIDtests.gov for free. Local health departments will also receive extra funding to offer free COVID-19 vaccines to uninsured and underinsured adults. Additionally, government-purchased supplies of the antiviral drug nirmatrelvir/ritonavir will be available at no cost to those who are uninsured or on Medicare or Medicaid. The government is also encouraging people to get the newly updated and recently approved COVID-19 booster shot ahead of the upcoming respiratory virus season. Although many Americans have some immunity from previous infections or vaccinations, less than a quarter of adults received last fall’s COVID-19 booster, according to the Associated Press. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) forecasts the number of hospitalizations due to respiratory illnesses this year is expected to be similar to or lower than last year.
COVID isn’t just for fall and winter: Weekly deaths from COVID-19 have steadily risen in the United States since mid-June, according to CDC’s COVID data tracker with positivity rates at 18% for the week ending August 23, 2024.