Some Americans Blocked From Ordering ‘Free’ Covid Tests in Early Website Launch
Another day, another Biden blunder.
Some Americans were blocked from ordering Joe Biden’s ‘free’ Covid tests on covidtests.gov on Tuesday, one day before the official launch of the website.
The website is still in the testing phase, according to White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki.
“Every website launch in our view comes with risk,” Psaki told reporters during a White House briefing Tuesday. “We can’t guarantee there won’t be a bug or two. But the best tech teams across the administration and the Postal Service are working hard to make this a success.”
A reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle said she won’t be able to receive Biden’s free Covid tests since her apartment is connected to a commercial building.
I won’t be able to receive at-home tests since my apartment is connected to a commercial building. Wonder how many others will have this issue. https://t.co/qundyrhifI pic.twitter.com/BKzOPadH23
— Jessica Christian (@jachristian) January 18, 2022
Another reporter said her basement neighbors in her rowhouse beat her to ordering the tests because Biden’s website couldn’t differentiate between “a” and “b” units with the same address.
Alright so the basement neighbors in my rowhouse beat us to ordering the tests… while we have the same address, they put that they were in the “b unit” while I put we were in the “a unit.” but still no dice on our unit being able to order tests. any others having this problem?? pic.twitter.com/oxGBkkYYIu
— Victoria Knight (@victoriaregisk) January 18, 2022
CNBC reported:
Americans on Tuesday started placing orders for free Covid tests promised by the Biden administration after the federal government rolled out the website a day earlier than expected — with some complaining on social media that they were blocked from ordering their own supplies.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the website, covidtests.gov, is in its testing phase and will officially launch Wednesday morning. Orders placed during the website’s testing phase Tuesday are valid and will be shipped, White House spokesman Kevin Munoz told CNBC.
Every household is limited to four tests based on residential address. The White House said last week it capped the number of tests people can order to ensure broad access to the program.
After clicking on “order free at-home tests,” the website redirects customers to a Postal Service order form, where you submit your name and address before checking out.
The Postal Service will ship the tests 7 to 12 days after orders are placed, according the Biden administration. The website on Tuesday said orders would start shipping at the end of the month.
