Missouri pauses its free at-home COVID test orders for Wednesday
You can’t order a free at home COVID test from the state of Missouri on Wednesday.
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services announced that due to a significant increase in demand, the agency is pausing at-home testing kit orders so they can “update the system’s accessibility.”
The pause is only for Wednesday, Jan. 5, and ordering will reopen Jan. 6.
Will the process for requesting free at home COVID-19 tests from the state of Missouri change?
Yes. There will only be a limited, set number of tests available for order each day in January starting on Thursday, Jan. 6. A DHSS release sent on Wednesday stated the rationing of tests is in order to ensure that the state’s contractor can ship kits “in a timely manner.”
If the ordering site says the limit has been reached, you’ll have to check again the following day for availability.
Can anyone still request a free at-home test from the state?
Yes, but the state is asking you not to stock pile them unnecessarily.
In Wednesday’s release, DHSS asks Missouri residents to only submit requests for immediate testing needs, if you feel sick and have COVID-19 symptoms, or if you’ve been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19.
If the COVID-19 positivity rate in the state “increases significantly,” the state may up the number of tests it can ship out daily. Wednesday’s release did not detail how much the positivity rate would need to increase by for the state to get more tests.
How can I order an at-home COVID-19 test?
We made a guide on how to get at-home COVID test from the state, and what to do with it when you get it. We also have a guide listing where you can get tested for COVID-19 around Kansas City, including drive-up sites, appointment options, rapid tests and PCR tests.
What other questions do you have about the latest COVID-19 surge in Kansas City? Ask us at kcq@kcstar.com or with the form below.
