Free at-home COVID test and free N95 masks

Happy Friday! If you are new to this newsletter, welcome aboard!

I hope today's edition of the Coronavirus Watch newsletter finds you happy, healthy and ready for the weekend.

The temperature has dropped and we are finally feeling winter. I overheard my children talking about the different seasons and I was surprised at how they all really don't care for the summer, even though they are out of school. They said it doesn't last long. What is your favorite season?

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Now, let's get into it:

The federal government has officially launched a website for those seeking at-home COVID tests. Americans can order online at COVIDtests.gov. There is also a hotline:

1-800-232-0233 and TY 1-888-720-7489. The testing kits will start shipping the week of Jan. 24. Once ordered the kits will be mailed within seven to 12 days. The tests will be delivered in the mail through the U.S. Postal Service and you will receive email notifications with shipping updates, including estimated delivery date and a tracking number when you enter your email address. More information:

• the kits are FDA-authorized at-home rapid antigen tests

• you can order up to four tests per household

• you can get up to eight at-home tests a month

N95 face masks will be distributed to sites nationwide to fight the surging omicron COVID-19 variant. President Joe Biden's administration has shipped 400 million free non-surgical N95 face masks this week as omicron variant have overwhelmed hospitals across the country. Masks are to be available next week. Nonsurgical N95 masks will be shipped to:

• pharmacies

• community centers

• other locations

• three masks per person

The White House expects the program to be fully operational by February.

NJ COVID VACCINE SITES

Here's the updated list of sites in Monmouth and Ocean counties offering COVID-19 vaccines, according to the state Department of Health.

VaccineFinder.gov is a free online website that will help you find and secure a local appointment with simple instructions.

Monmouth County

• Bayshore Medical Center, Holmdel: Registrations online only at hackensackmeridianhealth.org/covid19

• CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township: Registrations online only at www.centrastate.com/vaccine

• Community Health Center of Asbury Park: 1301 Main St.; 732-774-6333; vnachc.org/

• CVS Pharmacy: 3391 Route 35, Hazlet, 470 Route 36, Highlands, 71 South Broadway, Long Branch; 800-746-7287; cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine.

• Freehold Family Health Center: 579 Park Ave.; 732-294-2540; vnachc.org/

• Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune: Registrations online only at hackensackmeridianhealth.org/covid19

• Keyport Community Health Center: 35 Broad St.; 732-888-4149; https://vnachc.org/

• Monmouth County Health Department: 50 East Main St.; 732-431-7456; visitmonmouth.com/health

• Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch: Registrations online only at www.rwjbh.org/covid19vaccine.

• Ocean Health Initiatives: 3600 Route 66; Neptune; 732-363-6655; ohinj.org

• Red Bank Primary Care Center: 188 East Bergen Pl.; 732-219-6620; vnachc.org/

• Rite Aid: 1360 Route 36, Hazlet; 596 Shrewsbury Ave., Tinton Falls; 4057 Asbury Ave., Suite 8, Tinton Falls; 75 South Main St., Neptune; 200 Wilson Ave., Middletown; 149 Main St., Manasquan; riteaid.com/pharmacy/covid-qualifier

• Riverview Medical Center: 1 Riverview Plaza, Red Bank; 732-741-2700.

• Sam's Club: 320 W. Main St., Freehold, 732-780-0734

• ShopRite: 280 Route 9; Marlboro; or 3120 Route 35; Hazlet; vaccines.shoprite.com

• Walmart: 4900 Route 9, Howell, 732-886-9111; 326 W. Main, Freehold, 732-780-3484; 3575 Route 66, Neptune, 732-918-0441.

Ocean County

• CHEMED: 1771 Madison Ave., Lakewood; 732-364-6666; chemedhealth.org

• Community Medical Center, Toms River: Registrations online only at www.rwjbh.org/covid19vaccine.

• CVS Pharmacy: 1600 Route 35, Seaside Heights; 421 Lacey Rd., Manchester; 800-746-7287; cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine

• Long Beach Island Health Department: 609-492-1212; lbihealth.com

• Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus, Lakewood: Registrations online only at www.rwjbh.org/covid19vaccine.

• Ocean County Health Department: Multiple locations: 800-342 9738; www.ochd.org/covid19-vaccine-update/

• Ocean Health Initiatives: 10 Stockton Drive, Toms River; 101 2nd St., Lakewood; 798 Route 539, Little Egg Harbor; 732-363-6655; ohinj.org.

• Ocean Medical Center, Brick: 732-836-4144; hackensackmeridianhealth.org/covid19

• Rite Aid: 3258 Bridge Ave., Point Pleasant; 159 East Kennedy Blvd., Lakewood; 1041 Burnt Tavern Rd., Brick; 1 North New Prospect Rd., Jackson; riteaid.com/pharmacy/covid-qualifier

• Southern Ocean Medical Center: 1173 Beacon Ave., Stafford; 609-597-6011; hackensackmeridianhealth.org/covid19

• ShopRite: 297 Route 72, Stafford; and 860 Fischer Blvd., Toms River; vaccines.shoprite.com

Please have a safe enjoyable weekend. I'll be back in your inbox next week.

Best,

~Tamara Walker, Lead News Assistant ~

I can be reached at twalker@gannettnj.com or Twitter @twilderapp

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Free at-home COVID test and free N95 masks