A new round of free at-home covid-19 tests officially began shipping Monday, the Washington Post reported.

Each household can request four free tests via mail through covidtests.gov, the Biden administration announced, according to the Post.

The free tests will detect current virus strains, according to the Associated Press.

The revival of the free testing program comes ahead of an “expected winter wave” of covid-19 cases, the Post said. Free tests were not mailed during the summer wave, according to the Post.

Last year, over-the-counter covid-19 at-home tests typically cost around $11, AP reported.

David Boucher, a federal health official who manages infectious disease preparedness and response, said in August officials need to be strategic with limited resources, and fall is a good time to deploy free tests ahead of holiday travel and gatherings, the Post reported.

Despite the free tests being available once again, the Post said rapid antigen tests are no longer as reliable at detecting covid-19 because people now have stronger immune responses following repeated vaccination and infection.

Tests should be completed 48 hours apart when a person is sick, according to the Post, and they aren’t as accurate in the early days of symptoms.

The Biden administration has given out 1.8 billion covid-19 tests, including half distributed to households by mail, according to the AP.

The announcement of the free covid-19 testing program’s renewal comes as the government has urged people to get updated booster shots ahead of the fall and winter respiratory virus season, the AP said.

“Most Americans have some immunity from prior infections or vaccinations, but data shows under a quarter of U.S. adults took last fall’s covid-19 shot,” according to the AP.

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