Couple of months before, Federal government send free at-home Covid-19 test kits to Americans who filled request form. Now, Minnesota is also reportedly “offering a new option to order four free rapid at-home tests per household”, according to the Star Tribune.

Quoting Gov. Walz, MPR News writes that the state has secured half-million rapid antigen test kits, containing two-tests per kit. The state reportedly said “the antigen tests provide more flexibility to Minnesota families who need to monitor COVID-19 symptoms. The tests can be done at home and results are delivered within minutes, with no lab delivery required.”

Even as case numbers decline, it’s important that Minnesotans test for COVID-19 if they are feeling sick. That’s why we’re continuing to work to make tests easily accessible — now and in the future.

– Gov. Tim Walz said in a statement about the program (source: MPR News)

According to the Star Tribune, the covid positivity rate dropped “from 23.5% in the week ending Jan. 10 to 2.7% on March 18, and COVID-19 hospitalizations dropped from 1,629 on Jan. 14 to 201”.

• Minnesota offers free at-home COVID-19 tests
• Minnesota ending mail-in COVID testing, launches at-home rapid test program

Minnesota Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm told the Star Tribune “COVID-19 testing remains a key tool for Minnesotans. Even during times of lower community transmission, there are plenty of reasons a person might want to know whether they are infected and a potential risk to others around them.”

The at-home Covid-19 test kits are effective through 2022 or until they expire.

“Rapid antigen tests are convenient and produce instant results, but they are slightly less accurate even when used properly. That is especially true in the absence of symptoms or early in the course of COVID-19 when the body hasn’t produced a strong antibody response. At-home tests also aren’t included in state tallies,” writes Star Tribune.