Biotech
Monday, November 20th, 2023 3:00 pm EDT
Key Points
- Free At-Home Covid Tests for the Holidays: The Biden administration is providing a new round of free at-home Covid tests to U.S. households, anticipating increased virus transmission during the holiday season when people gather indoors. Americans can request four free tests through COVIDtests.gov, with an option for those who haven’t ordered tests this fall to place two orders, totaling eight tests. This initiative follows a previous round of four free tests offered in September, resuming a federal program that temporarily ceased during a political dispute over Covid funding.
- Importance of At-Home Tests Amid Changing Landscape: At-home tests are emphasized as a critical tool against the virus, particularly as lab PCR tests, the traditional method for detecting Covid, have become more expensive and less accessible since the government ended the public health emergency in May. Despite this, the demand for tests, Covid vaccines, and treatments has significantly dropped over the past year as Covid cases and public concern have decreased.
- Holiday Concerns and Signs of a Winter Covid Wave: While only a small percentage of Americans express worry about Covid disrupting their holiday plans this fall and winter, signs of a potential winter Covid wave are emerging. A poll conducted by the health policy research organization KFF indicates that about three in 10 Americans are concerned about getting seriously sick from or spreading the virus during the holidays. Additionally, there is a growing number of hospitalizations, with over 16,200 Americans hospitalized in the week ending Nov. 11, marking an 8.6% increase from the previous week. Despite the increase, the current hospitalization numbers are still lower than those recorded during the same period last year.
The Biden administration has announced a new round of free at-home Covid tests for U.S. households in preparation for the upcoming holiday season, a time when indoor gatherings often lead to increased virus transmission. Starting immediately, Americans can request four free tests through COVIDtests.gov. Those who haven’t ordered any tests this fall can place two orders, receiving a total of eight tests. In September, the administration initiated a program offering four free tests, resuming after a temporary shutdown due to a political dispute over Covid funding.
At-home tests have become crucial for virus protection, especially with the reduced accessibility and increased cost of traditional lab PCR tests, which detect Covid. Demand for tests, vaccines, and treatments has declined over the past year as cases and public concern about the virus waned. Despite this, signs of a potential winter Covid wave are emerging, with over 16,200 Americans hospitalized in the week ending November 11, marking an 8.6% increase from the previous week. Although hospitalizations are still lower than the same period last year, the Biden administration is taking proactive measures to mitigate the potential impact of the virus during the holiday season. A recent poll indicates that approximately three in 10 Americans are concerned about getting seriously sick from or spreading Covid over the holidays, while fewer than half express concerns about a potential winter surge, which has occurred in previous years of the pandemic.
For the full original article on CNBC, please click here: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/20/free-at-home-covid-tests-available-starting-monday.html
