Biden’s Plans To Deliver At-Home Test In January Finalized

With The White House and U.S. Postal Service set to deliver 500 million Covid-19 test kits to U.S. households, the demand for rapid testing will no longer outstrip supply in the US. Now with plans to ship 500 million Covid-19 tests to households mid-January confirmed, citizens will no longer need to line up outside pharmacies or community centers.

A Kickstart To Biden’s Response To The Raging Omicron Surge   

Local news sites have announced that the Biden administration has awarded its first contract among the test manufacturers and distributors who submitted proposals to the government in the interest to provide a share of the tests.

According to Jeffrey Zients, the White House coronavirus response coordinator said manufacturers would soon deliver tests to the federal government. With this, Zients confirmed that tests would not disrupt or cannibalize tests available in pharmacies or on websites.

While more information is to follow next week and further announcements are made, U.S. citizens are encouraged to keep abreast of the situation and await the new website to be launched. The new website will be made available to U.S. citizens looking to acquire the free test. For more information on at-home free tests, click here.

January 6: United States COVID-19 Cases, Deaths, and Laboratory Testing (NAATs) by State, Territory, and Jurisdiction

The latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) test stats show that

726 247 503 tests have been done and reported since the pandemic began. Within the last seven days,  58 282 100 tests have been done, with a positivity rate of 27.24%. With the delivery of the new tests in January, these stats are expected to change drastically. 

Types Of Tests Delivered Soon To The Public

While the brand of tests has yet to be known, all tests are safe and accurate. Currently on the market is viral tests, antigen tests, and antibody tests. 

Like at-home kits authorized by the FDA, the at-home tests are antigen tests. These tests effectively pick up things that the virus makes or sheds. 

Viral tests show Covid-19 infection through the picking up of SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes Covid-19. Taken from your nose or mouth, rapid tests can be self-administered, providing rapid results through the taking of samples. As a risk-reduction measure, the tests to be delivered this month can include Antigen and some Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests (NAATs). 

On the other end of the testing spectrum, CDC describes antibody tests that detect antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in the blood. These tests can diagnose previous and current infections. Antibody tests will not be delivered this month through the Biden administration. 

At-Home Testing Recommendations From The CDC

With less than 30% of the U.S. population having performed tests, key pointers for self-testing tests have been released on our previous blog. As previously prescribed by The Center For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), individuals must follow all the manufacturer’s instructions. Whether results render positive or negative outcomes, proper steps should be taken, and health practitioners consulted. 

Repeat testing is advised following the initial testing to ensure the result is accurate. When testing, it is recommended that individuals swab their noses and smear the swab on the pre-treated card. Sufficient waiting should be done to allow the test to render accurate results. 

Some brands of at-home tests will provide the number of telehealth professionals who can be contacted during the test. These professionals offer assistance or result verification if needed. Further assistance is provided with the Covid-19 Viral Testing Tool and the Covid-19 Self-Checker. Hand in hand with the Biden administration, health professionals and the CDC have encouraged U.S. citizens to take advantage of these free tests when finalized plans see tests delivered. For more information on testing, click here.