Free COVID testing is returning just in time for respiratory illness season in Michigan

Knowing which of the “big three” virus causes — COVID, flu or respiratory syncytial virus — can also help curb its spread, Budd said.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID is generally more contagious than flu. Older children and adults with flu are most contagious in the first three days of their illness, while other people are infected On average, people with COVID can begin spreading the virus two to three days before their symptoms begin and are considered contagious about eight days after symptoms begin.

And while flu is generally spread by sick people, COVID is also spread by asymptomatic people.

When do I test?

The strict testing and isolation rules that were in place at the start of the pandemic are long outdated, and testing decisions are becoming increasingly complicated as other respiratory viruses return and allergy season hits.

As free testing becomes more available, Dr. Matthew Sims Tests to protect vulnerable relatives and colleagues.

Remote workers with mild cases and little contact with people may not find it necessary to test, especially if the number of tests is limited, he said.

The CDC has issued recommendations to curb the spread of COVID, flu, RSV and other respiratory illnesses.

These include: taking steps to clean air, practicing good hand hygiene, wearing masks, maintaining physical distance and/or testing when you are indoors with other people.

What other types of tests are there?

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved combination flu and COVID home tests. They are available over the counter and use a nasal swab that tests for influenza A, influenza B and COVID-19. However, they are not cheap. A single test of Lucira, the first FDA-approved test of its kind, sells on Amazon for $39.99. Four tests from iHealth went on sale this week for $49.99. Two tests from WeLLlife sold for $29.99.

All of this means that free tests received in mailboxes may be the most cost-effective way to get tested for COVID these days, as there are fewer and fewer government-funded community testing sites in 2020 and 2021.

But there are some other free options: The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has converted 22 former testing sites into Neighborhood Wellness Centers, which offer COVID testing as well as other basic health screenings. (The list can be found here.) The state health department continues to offer free at-home testing through a partnership with local libraries.

Local health departments can also offer advice. (Find yours here.)

What about my expired tests?

Michiganders with old jerseys should check the expiration date. Some tests deteriorate over time, but some expiration dates have been extended. Check out this website here.