Still waiting on your free COVID-19 test kits from the government? Here’s what you need to know

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Many people are wondering where their free at-home COVID-19 test kits are — the ones the Biden administration promised to mail to every household.

One of the people still waiting to receive his is Action 9′s Jason Stoogenke. He ordered his test kit nearly a month ago on Jan. 18 and it’s still not here.

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Kelsey Harris is another person asking. She says she ordered her free test kits on the USPS website back in January and still hadn’t gotten them as of Thursday.

“Hopefully, I get them soon,” she said.

ALSO READ: Where can you find an at-home COVID-19 test?

USPS Response

The United States Postal Service states on its website that it typically ships the kits “within 7-12 days of ordering.” It also implies it has more requests than kits: “Due to high demand, we’re fulfilling orders as tests come in: Place your order now and it will ship as soon as USPS receives tests from manufacturers.”

Stoogenke asked a USPS spokesperson why many people are still waiting to get their tests. He said, “The Postal Service ships the tests out as quickly as we receive them. There has been a huge demand and we’re making incredible progress. We appreciate the patience of those that have not yet received their tests.”

White House Response

The White House gave an update on the kits on Wednesday. According to the transcript, the government claims it filled 85% of the requests already: 50 million orders, 200 million test kits.

The government says it delivers more than 60% within 24 hours and 90% within 48 hours.

Channel 9 Newsroom

Stoogenke asked his coworkers at Channel 9 if any of them had ordered kits and had received them. A little more than half had gotten their kits, but no one got the test within two days. The fastest someone received one was about a week. The rest had received theirs in 10-27 days.