Free dwelling COVID exams at CovidTests.gov
The Biden administration introduced Wednesday customers as soon as once more will have the ability to get 4 free COVID dwelling exams per family starting Monday by means of the government-run web site CovidTests.gov.
The reopening of the free take a look at program comes because the Division of Well being and Human Providers introduced it’s going to award $600 million to a dozen home COVID-19 take a look at producers to shore up the federal government’s provide of dwelling exams. The funding will ship about 200 million new over-the-counter COVID-19 exams, officers mentioned.
Throughout 4 earlier rounds, HHS secured and the Postal Service delivered greater than 755 million exams free to households. This system ended on the conclusion of the COVID-19 public well being emergency earlier this 12 months. The federal authorities has continued to ship exams to nursing properties, low-income senior housing, the uninsured and and underserved communities, officers mentioned.
HHS’ Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response introduced the contracts will vary from $167 million to iHealth in California to $4.5 million to Advin in California. The a dozen take a look at producers make use of a whole bunch of staff in seven states, officers mentioned.
“The Biden-Harris Administration, in partnership with home producers, has made nice strides in addressing vulnerabilities within the U.S. provide chain by decreasing our reliance on abroad manufacturing,” mentioned HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “These vital investments will strengthen our nation’s manufacturing ranges of home at-home COVID-19 speedy exams and assist mitigate the unfold of the virus.”HHS officers mentioned the exams will detect the COVID-19 variants now circulating and can be utilized by means of the tip of 2023.
The Biden administration launched CovidTests in early 2022 as lengthy strains and residential take a look at shortages made it troublesome for Individuals to get checked for the contagious omicron variant, then the dominant pressure. The federal authorities initially bought 500 million dwelling exams to be mailed to households so folks might take a look at themselves at dwelling with out a lab.
COVID-19 infections have been rising since early July, knowledge from the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention exhibits. Hospitalizations are up 7.7% and deaths 4.5% prior to now week, however totals stay far under earlier peaks.
