Will the US ever have a national COVID-19 testing strategy?
4 years, 1 month ago

Will the US ever have a national COVID-19 testing strategy?

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — As the coronavirus epidemic worsens, U.S. health experts hope Joe Biden’s administration will put in place something Donald Trump’s has not — a comprehensive national testing strategy. “If we’d had a more robust approach and testing was scaled up as one of the tools, I think much of this third surge would have been avoidable,” said Dr. Grant Colfax, director of the San Francisco Department of Public Health. In a June tweet, the president called testing a double-edged sword that is good to have but “makes us look bad.” And Dr. Scott Atlas — a top pandemic adviser to Trump before he resigned Monday — argued against testing people who aren’t experiencing symptoms. During an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes of Health said Americans should have easy tests they can do in their own homes.

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History of this topic

The US is mailing Americans COVID tests again. Here’s how to get them
3 months, 1 week ago

The US is mailing Americans COVID tests again. Here’s how to get them

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Americans can once again order COVID-19 tests, without being charged, sent straight to their homes. The website has been reopened on the heels of a summer COVID-19 virus wave and heading into the fall and winter respiratory virus season, with health officials urging Americans to get an updated COVID-19 vaccine and their yearly flu shot. U.S. regulators approved …

Free COVID tests are back. Here's how to order a test to your home
3 months, 1 week ago

Free COVID tests are back. Here's how to order a test to your home

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Americans can once again order …

Government announces more COVID-19 tests can be ordered through mail for no cost
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Government announces more COVID-19 tests can be ordered through mail for no cost

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — On the heels of a summer wave of COVID-19 cases, Americans will be able to get free virus test kits mailed to their homes, starting in late September. U.S. households will be able to order up to four COVID-19 nasal swab tests when the federal program reopens, according to the website, COVIDtests.gov. The announcement also comes as the …

White House lifting its COVID-19 testing rule for people around Biden, ending a pandemic vestige
10 months ago

White House lifting its COVID-19 testing rule for people around Biden, ending a pandemic vestige

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The White House on Monday lifted its COVID-19 testing requirement for those who plan to be in close contact with President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and their spouses, bringing to an end the last coronavirus prevention protocol at the White House. The White House said the change aligns its policies with the Centers for Disease Control …

Sick with COVID and the flu: Double infections hit California hard
1 year ago

Sick with COVID and the flu: Double infections hit California hard

LA Times  

California’s hospitals are getting busier with more COVID-19 and flu patients, some of whom are suffering from both viruses at the same time. L.A. County’s entry into the “medium” COVID-19 hospitalization category has prompted local public health officials to order hospitals, nursing homes and any other inpatient facility to require healthcare employees mask up while in patient-care areas. Multiple tests …

More free COVID-19 tests from the government are available for home delivery through the mail
1 year, 1 month ago

More free COVID-19 tests from the government are available for home delivery through the mail

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Americans can order more free COVID-19 tests online for home delivery. The U.S. government is offering to send another round of four at-home virus tests ahead of the typical surge in cases during the winter holiday season. The new release of free COVID-19 nasal swab tests also comes ahead of the first winter since the pandemic started that …

Biden government to deliver free COVID tests again to US households
1 year, 3 months ago

Biden government to deliver free COVID tests again to US households

Live Mint  

The US Department of Health and Human Services said on September 20 that it will deliver COVID-19 tests for free to households across the country, reported Reuters. The health agency said that starting from September 25, households will again have the option to request four free tests via COVIDTests.gov. The HHS further said that these tests are designed to identify …

Biden administration announces $600M to produce COVID tests and will reopen website to order them
1 year, 3 months ago

Biden administration announces $600M to produce COVID tests and will reopen website to order them

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The Biden administration announced Wednesday that it is providing $600 …

Covid-19: US households will be able to order more free tests starting Monday
1 year, 3 months ago

Covid-19: US households will be able to order more free tests starting Monday

CNN  

CNN — The US government will relaunch a program to provide free Covid-19 home tests to Americans, US Department of Health and Human Services said Wednesday. Becerra said HHS’s Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response “has been resupplying our stockpile.” The tests coming available soon are intended for use through the end of 2023 and will include instructions on how …

U.S. announces $600 million to produce COVID tests and will reopen website for orders
1 year, 3 months ago

U.S. announces $600 million to produce COVID tests and will reopen website for orders

LA Times  

The Biden administration is providing $600 million to produce new at-home COVID-19 tests and is resurrecting a website allowing Americans to again order up to four free tests per household. The Biden administration announced Wednesday that it is providing $600 million in funding to produce new at-home COVID-19 tests and is restarting a website allowing Americans to again order up …

Continue COVID-19 testing to check emergence of new virus variants: WHO chief
1 year, 4 months ago

Continue COVID-19 testing to check emergence of new virus variants: WHO chief

The Hindu  

Warning that many countries aren’t testing enough and that new SARS-CoV-2 virus variants may emerge, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, on Wednesday said that testing and being vigilant is vital in continuing the fight against COVID-19. “While COVID is now behind us and India did its best during the time, we can expect new and more …

The CDC is changing the way it monitors COVID-19 in the U.S.
1 year, 8 months ago

The CDC is changing the way it monitors COVID-19 in the U.S.

LA Times  

Dr. Nirav Shah, principal deputy director for the CDC, said the country will be able to maintain “good sight lines” into the state of COVID-19 in America. With the federal government’s three-year-old public health emergency set to expire next Thursday, the agency will begin to track COVID-19 cases alongside other respiratory illnesses, said Dr. Nirav D. Shah, the CDC’s principal …

Ramp up COVID-19 testing and vaccination, identify hotspots, drill hospital infrastructure, Centre tells States
1 year, 9 months ago

Ramp up COVID-19 testing and vaccination, identify hotspots, drill hospital infrastructure, Centre tells States

The Hindu  

At a time when COVID-19 cases in the country are seeing a sustained spike, 23 States and Union Territories have testing rates that are even lower than the current national average of 100 tests per million people, the Health Ministry said during a review meeting on Friday. Tracking variants Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya also advised States to ramp up …

Centre Asks States to Stay Alert As Covid-19 Cases Cross 6000-mark, Conduct Mock Drills
1 year, 9 months ago

Centre Asks States to Stay Alert As Covid-19 Cases Cross 6000-mark, Conduct Mock Drills

News 18  

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday chaired a high-level meeting to discuss the surge in Covid-19 cases in the country and advised states to remain vigilant and prepare for effective management of the virus. During a virtual meeting with state health ministers, principal, and additional chief secretaries, Mandaviya emphasised the need to identify emergency hotspots through the monitoring of …

Ramp up Covid testing to stay alert: Centre to states
1 year, 9 months ago

Ramp up Covid testing to stay alert: Centre to states

Hindustan Times  

The Union government on Saturday directed states to increase testing for Covid-19 as per the World Health Organization’s guidelines to effectively check any increase in its spread, people familiar with the matter said. “In the past several weeks, in some states Covid-19 testing has declined and the current testing levels are insufficient as compared to the standards prescribed by WHO,” …

U.S. to relax COVID testing rules for travelers from China as early as Friday
1 year, 10 months ago

U.S. to relax COVID testing rules for travelers from China as early as Friday

LA Times  

The Biden administration is preparing to relax COVID-19 testing restrictions for travelers from China as soon as Friday, according to two people familiar with the decision. The restrictions were put in place Dec. 28 and took effect Jan. 5 amid the surge in China after the government sharply eased pandemic restrictions and as U.S. health officials expressed concerns that their …

US to require negative Covid tests for travelers from China
2 years ago

US to require negative Covid tests for travelers from China

Firstpost  

From 5 January, all air passengers two years and older who originate from China must obtain a negative Covid-19 test less than two days before departure and provide it to their airlines, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. Washington: The United States will require negative Covid tests from all air travelers from China, saying Beijing is not …

US will require COVID-19 testing for travelers from China
2 years ago

US will require COVID-19 testing for travelers from China

Associated Press  

The U.S. announced new COVID-19 testing requirements Wednesday for all travelers from China, joining other nations imposing restrictions because of a surge of infections. But the CDC’s action may be less about stopping a new variant from crossing U.S. borders and more about increasing pressure on China to share more information, said Dr. David Dowdy, an infectious disease epidemiologist at …

U.S. will require coronavirus testing for travelers from China
2 years ago

U.S. will require coronavirus testing for travelers from China

LA Times  

The U.S. announced new coronavirus testing requirements Wednesday for all travelers from China, joining other nations imposing restrictions because of a surge in infections. But the CDC’s action may be less about stopping a new variant from crossing U.S. borders and more about increasing pressure on China to share more information, said Dr. David Dowdy, an infectious disease epidemiologist at …

Hospitals should stop mass testing for Covid, says influential panel of infectious disease experts
2 years ago

Hospitals should stop mass testing for Covid, says influential panel of infectious disease experts

Daily Mail  

An influential panel of infectious disease experts recommended hospitals stop testing all new admissions for Covid, which they argue is coming at too high a cost for patients and providers. An influential panel of experts, Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, are now discouraging hospitals from burdensome testing which adds to hospital wait times and crowding as well as the …

Free rapid tests available again in preparation for possible winter COVID surge
2 years ago

Free rapid tests available again in preparation for possible winter COVID surge

LA Times  

The Biden administration is making free coronavirus tests available to U.S. households again. The Biden administration is again making free coronavirus tests available to all U.S. households as it unveils contingency plans for potential COVID-19 surges this winter. After a three-month hiatus, the administration Thursday began making four rapid tests available to all American households through covidtests.gov, said a senior …

Flying to the US? Soon you won’t need a COVID test
2 years, 6 months ago

Flying to the US? Soon you won’t need a COVID test

Al Jazeera  

The US had required travelers to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test if they were flying into the country. US President Joe Biden’s administration is lifting its requirement that international air travelers to the US take a COVID-19 test within a day before boarding their flights, easing one of the last remaining government mandates meant to contain …

U.S. to lift COVID-19 test requirement for international air arrivals
2 years, 6 months ago

U.S. to lift COVID-19 test requirement for international air arrivals

LA Times  

The lifting of the COVID-19 test requirement for international air travel ends one of the last government mandates meant to contain the coronavirus. The Biden administration is lifting its requirement that international air travelers to the U.S. take a COVID-19 test within a day before boarding their flights, easing one of the last remaining government mandates meant to contain the …

US making COVID antiviral drug more available at test sites
2 years, 7 months ago

US making COVID antiviral drug more available at test sites

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The White House on Thursday announced more steps to make the antiviral treatment Paxlovid more accessible across the U.S. as it projects COVID-19 infections will continue to spread over the summer travel season. “COVID is no longer the killer that it was even a year ago.” Jha said that given the wider use of at-home rapid tests, whose …

Pandemic gets tougher to track as COVID testing plunges
2 years, 7 months ago

Pandemic gets tougher to track as COVID testing plunges

LA Times  

Testing for coronavirus infections has plummeted across the globe, making it much tougher for scientists to track the course of the COVID-19 pandemic and spot new, worrisome viral variants as they emerge and spread. “We’re not testing anywhere near where we might need to,” said Dr. Krishna Udayakumar, who directs the Global Health Innovation Center at Duke University. At a …

The AP Interview: US ‘vulnerable’ to COVID without new shots
2 years, 7 months ago

The AP Interview: US ‘vulnerable’ to COVID without new shots

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — White House COVID-19 coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha issued a dire warning Thursday that the U.S. will be increasingly vulnerable to the coronavirus this fall and winter if Congress doesn’t swiftly approve new funding for more vaccines and treatments. “That leaves a lot of us vulnerable.” Jha predicted that the next generation of vaccines, which are likely to be …

Pandemic Gets Tougher to Track as Covid-19 Testing Plunges
2 years, 7 months ago

Pandemic Gets Tougher to Track as Covid-19 Testing Plunges

News 18  

Testing for Covid-19 has plummeted across the globe, making it much tougher for scientists to track the course of the pandemic and spot new, worrisome viral mutants as they emerge and spread. Were not testing anywhere near where we might need to, said Dr. Krishna Udayakumar, who directs the Duke Global Health Innovation Center at Duke University. Mara Aspinall, managing …

Experts worry about how US will see next Covid-19 surge coming
2 years, 9 months ago

Experts worry about how US will see next Covid-19 surge coming

India Today  

As coronavirus infections rise in some parts of the world, experts are watching for a potential new COVID-19 surge in the U.S. — and wondering how long it will take to detect. Despite disease monitoring improvements over the last two years, they say, some recent developments don’t bode well: —As more people take rapid COVID-19 tests at home, fewer people …

Experts fear U.S. won’t see next COVID surge coming
2 years, 9 months ago

Experts fear U.S. won’t see next COVID surge coming

LA Times  

Firefighters collect samples of sewage water to measure coronavirus concentrations in Marseille, France. As coronavirus infections rise in some parts of the world, experts are watching for a potential new COVID-19 surge in the U.S. — and wondering how long it will take to detect. Despite disease-monitoring improvements over the last two years, they say, some recent developments don’t bode …

End of COVID funds? House eyes $15.6-billion plan, but outlook is dim
2 years, 9 months ago

End of COVID funds? House eyes $15.6-billion plan, but outlook is dim

LA Times  

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi gives her weekly news conference Wednesday on Capitol Hill in Washington. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the turn of events “heartbreaking.” The idea had been to add President Biden’s request for new virus aid to the massive $1.5-trillion spending bill, a must-pass measure needed by week’s end to keep the federal government operating through …

At long last, WHO issues coronavirus testing advice
2 years, 9 months ago

At long last, WHO issues coronavirus testing advice

LA Times  

A woman is tested for a coronavirus infection at the Lenasia South Hospital near Johannesburg in South Africa. The advice comes months after critics said the lack of recommendations from the global health agency was compromising efforts to stop the pandemic in poor countries. At a press briefing on Wednesday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the agency was concerned …

New Biden pandemic plan: Closer to normal for the nation
2 years, 10 months ago

New Biden pandemic plan: Closer to normal for the nation

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — It’s time for America to stop letting the coronavirus “dictate how we live,” President Joe Biden’s White House declared Wednesday, outlining a strategy to allow people to return to many normal activities safely after two years of pandemic disruptions. A White House official said the “test-to-treat” plan would initially roll out in hundreds of pharmacies across the country, …

'Prepare for new COVID-19 variants': Joe Biden tells pandemic-weary Americans
2 years, 10 months ago

'Prepare for new COVID-19 variants': Joe Biden tells pandemic-weary Americans

Firstpost  

In his first State of the Union Address on Tuesday, Biden said thanks to the progress the country has made last year, COVID-19 need no longer controls the lives of the Americans. President Joe Biden has urged Americans to prepare themselves for new coronavirus variants as he launched a new initiative aimed at helping COVID-19-infected people to get tested at …

US FDA warns against use of certain unapproved Covid tests
2 years, 10 months ago

US FDA warns against use of certain unapproved Covid tests

Live Mint  

The US Food and Drug Administration has warned people against the use of unauthorised versions of certain Covid-19 rapid antigen tests currently being marketed in the United States. The US drug agency said that fraudulent Covid-19 products can come in many varieties, including dietary supplements and other foods, as well as products claiming to be tests, drugs, medical devices, or …

White House outlines new plan to combat COVID in US
2 years, 10 months ago

White House outlines new plan to combat COVID in US

Al Jazeera  

New preparedness plan requires more funding to restock the nation’s stockpile of tests, antiviral pills and masks. US President Joe Biden‘s administration has laid out a new national blueprint to combat COVID-19, including any possible future outbreaks of new variants, without shutting down schools and businesses. It said the additional funding would help restock the nation’s stockpile of tests, antiviral …

White House launches ‘test to treat’ COVID-19 initiative, plan toward greater normality
2 years, 10 months ago

White House launches ‘test to treat’ COVID-19 initiative, plan toward greater normality

LA Times  

Beginning this month, Americans will be able to head to their local pharmacy for a coronavirus test and, if they test positive, receive antiviral pills on the spot, at no cost to them. President Biden announced the launch of the “test to treat” initiative during Tuesday night’s State of the Union Address as he emphasized the country’s progress in battling …

White House unveils plan to move America to a new stage of the Covid pandemic
2 years, 10 months ago

White House unveils plan to move America to a new stage of the Covid pandemic

CNN  

CNN — The White House on Wednesday unveiled a plan to move the nation to a new stage of the pandemic where Covid-19 “does not disrupt our daily lives,” while also preparing the nation for any new variants that may emerge. A major new part of the plan includes a new “Test to Treat” initiative that President Joe Biden announced …

60 million households have requested free Covid-19 rapid tests, White House says
2 years, 11 months ago

60 million households have requested free Covid-19 rapid tests, White House says

CNN  

CNN — The White House said on Friday some 60 million households have requested free Covid-19 rapid tests so far, with tens of millions tests having “gone out the door” as part of the Biden administration’s program to mail more than half a billion rapid tests to Americans around the country. White House principal deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told …

US begins offering 1B free COVID tests, but many more needed
2 years, 11 months ago

US begins offering 1B free COVID tests, but many more needed

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — For the first time, people across the U.S. can log on to a government website and order free, at-home COVID-19 tests. “The playbook for rapid tests should look exactly like the playbook for vaccines,” said Zoe McLaren, a health economist at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. While private companies are now producing more than 250 million at-home …

US Begins Offering Free Covid-19 Test Kits, but Doubts Persist
2 years, 11 months ago

US Begins Offering Free Covid-19 Test Kits, but Doubts Persist

News 18  

For the first time, all Americans can log on to a government website and order free, at-home COVID-19 tests. While private companies are now producing more than 250 million at-home tests per month, that is still not enough to allow most Americans to frequently test themselves. The U.S. would need 2.3 billion tests per month for all teens and adults …

Covidtests.gov is off to a strong start but big hurdle awaits
2 years, 11 months ago

Covidtests.gov is off to a strong start but big hurdle awaits

CNN  

Editor’s Note: David M. Perry is a journalist and historian and co-author of “The Bright Ages: A New History of Medieval Europe.” He is a senior academic adviser in the history department of the University of Minnesota. CNN — The Tuesday news that the Biden administration’s free rapid Covid-19 test site had gone online a day early, part of a …

US launches website to provide free at-home COVID tests
2 years, 11 months ago

US launches website to provide free at-home COVID tests

Al Jazeera  

With a new website, launched one day ahead of the official date, Americans can order up to four free test kits per household. People in the United States can now order free COVID-19 test kits online, as the White House moves to boost testing capacity amid a surge in coronavirus infections linked to the Omicron variant. The programme initially will …

Biden announces new measures to combat Omicron threat
2 years, 11 months ago

Biden announces new measures to combat Omicron threat

Al Jazeera  

US Joe Biden President said that teams of military medical personnel would be dispatched to help six states hard-hit by COVID. United States President Joe Biden announced the doubling of rapid at-home COVID-19 tests and the deployment of medical personnel to six hard-hit states as the nation confronts a surge in Omicron variant cases. Biden also announced that starting next …

‘We’re all frustrated’ on COVID: Biden to boost test availability and send military to help hospitals
2 years, 11 months ago

‘We’re all frustrated’ on COVID: Biden to boost test availability and send military to help hospitals

LA Times  

As the Omicron variant swamps hospitals with new coronavirus cases, President Biden on Thursday said he would reinforce the country’s healthcare system and make more COVID-19 tests available. However, Biden said his administration wouldn’t announce until next week its plans to make high-quality masks available for free even as he encouraged Americans to continue covering their mouths and noses indoors. …

The White House will distribute 10 million more COVID tests per month to schools
2 years, 11 months ago

The White House will distribute 10 million more COVID tests per month to schools

NPR  

The White House will distribute 10 million more COVID tests per month to schools Enlarge this image toggle caption Jon Cherry/Getty Images Jon Cherry/Getty Images With schools all over the country struggling to deal with a surge of coronavirus cases from the omicron variant, the White House on Wednesday announced it is increasing the supply of COVID-19 tests for schools …

EXPLAINER: Where are the COVID-19 tests that Biden promised?
3 years ago

EXPLAINER: Where are the COVID-19 tests that Biden promised?

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden announced last month that the federal government will buy half a billion COVID-19 rapid test kits and distribute them free to people to use at home. The federal government is expected to get delivery of the first batch of tests “over the next week or so,” according to White House COVID-19 coordinator Jeff Zients. “We’re …

Biden administration signs first contract for free rapid Covid-19 test distribution
3 years ago

Biden administration signs first contract for free rapid Covid-19 test distribution

CNN  

CNN — The Biden administration has signed its first contracts with a Covid-19 test manufacturer as part of President Joe Biden’s efforts to distribute half a billion free rapid tests throughout the country, a White House official confirms to CNN. The Department of Defense awarded a $51 million contract to Goldbelt Security, LLC, “for delivery of over-the-counter COVID-19 test kits.” …

Covid-19 cases surge around world, raising testing and quarantine fears
3 years ago

Covid-19 cases surge around world, raising testing and quarantine fears

Live Mint  

Daily Covid-19 infections have hit record highs in the United States, swathes of Europe and Australia as the new Omicron variant of the virus races out of control, keeping workers at home and overwhelming testing centres. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said his country needed "a gear change" to manage overburdened laboratories, with long walk-in and drive-in queues reported in …

Biden pledges to support states in struggle against COVID
3 years ago

Biden pledges to support states in struggle against COVID

LA Times  

President Biden on Monday promised the federal government would do all it could to assist states facing surges in COVID-19 cases from the contagious Omicron variant, assuring governors that the administration was seeking to boost testing and vaccination capacity. Biden’s pledge came a week after federal health officials said Omicron surpassed the Delta variant as the leading cause of new …

Finding a Covid-19 test is a struggle right now in the US as Omicron and holiday plans collide
3 years ago

Finding a Covid-19 test is a struggle right now in the US as Omicron and holiday plans collide

CNN  

CNN — With coronavirus cases surging once again, frustrated Americans are struggling to get tested days before Christmas as long lines and increased demand overwhelm some facilities across the country. People who have been previously infected with Covid-19 and remain unvaccinated “should not assume that have protection against Omicron,” US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy said Tuesday. As to whether …

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