COVID Updates
Message From CUUF Health and Safety Task-force
Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order four free at-home tests. Visit COVIDTests.gov or order over the phone at 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489). Ordering is easy; provide your name and mailing address. The tests are mailed through the US Postal Service (USPS), and shipping is free. They will detect current COVID-19 variants and are usable until the end of the year.
Many COVID tests have extended the expiration dates. You can use your free tests after the expiration date printed on the box. Check the FDA’s list to determine if your test has an extended expiration date.
At-home tests are also for sale at local retailers and pharmacies.
If you have any respiratory symptoms, it’s important to test yourself at home before attending CUUF services or activities. Let’s help protect each other from unwanted illness and prevent the further spread of COVID!
What should I do If I have been exposed to COVID-19
Quarantine is no longer a standard recommendation after being exposed to COVID. If you have been exposed to COVID-19, take the following steps:
- Get tested 3-5 days after your last contact with the person with COVID-19.
- Wear a high-quality mask or respirator around others at home and in public for 10 days
after your last contact with the person with COVID-19. - Watch for symptoms of COVID-19. Stay home if you are sick.
More specific details are available at the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) website. (Scroll down the page to the section on what to do if exposed.)
What to do if you have COVID symptoms or test positive for COVID-19
Current public health recommendations are outlined on the DOH website below. Start at the top of the page and click on the links for more specific information.
https://doh.wa.gov/emergencies/covid-19/isolation-and-quarantine-covid-19
Where to get COVID-19 test kits
Test kits are available for purchase at most pharmacies.
Four free COVID-19 rapid tests are available for every household and can be delivered directly to your home.
Sign-up is easy from this website: https://special.usps.com/testkits
Can I use a COVID-19 test kit beyond the expiration date on the package?
Expiration dates have been extended for some test kits. Before you throw out “expired” tests check this website to see if your tests’ expiration dates have been extended. Scroll down the page to access a list alphabetized by manufacturer. Click on the “extended expiration date” column next to the name of the manufacturer and test.
Should I get the updated COVID-19 vaccine?
To help protect against serious illness from COVID-19, CDC recommends updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccines for everyone 6 months and older that target the omicron subvariant XBB.1.5. The new (October 4, 2023) COVID-19 vaccine recommendations are outlined here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html
Where can I get the vaccine?
Find locations with COVID-19 vaccinations on this website: