The Biden administration will once again provide free at-home COVID-19 testing to US households ahead of the cooler fall and winter months.
Twelve domestic manufacturers have been awarded $600 million to produce approximately 200 million new over-the-counter COVID-19 tests, which will be made available to the public through COVIDTests.gov starting September 25, the Department of Health and Human Services announced Wednesday.
Households can order up to four free tests, which are meant to be used until the end of the year and will detect the circulating variant of the coronavirus.
“The Biden-Harris administration, in partnership with domestic manufacturers, has made significant progress in addressing weaknesses in the US supply chain by reducing our reliance on overseas manufacturing,” HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement. “This critical investment will strengthen our country’s domestic production level of rapid COVID-19 tests and help reduce the spread of the virus.”
The government has ordered about 200 million new COVID-19 test kits. AP
California-based health care product manufacturer iHealth received the largest amount of federal spending, $167 million, to produce the new test. New Jersey-based Access Bio received the second largest payment, $88.7 million, as part of the new program.
Advin, CorDx, Kwell Laboratories and Quidel are other California-based companies that received funding. Azure in Texas, InBios in Washington, Maxim Bio in Maryland, OraSure Technologies in Pennsylvania, Sekisui in Delaware and Princeton BioMeditech in New Jersey, have also been awarded millions of dollars by the Biden administration to produce new COVID tests.
“Producing COVID-19 testing in the United States strengthens our preparedness for the coming fall and winter, reduces our dependence on other countries, and provides good jobs for hard-working Americans,” said the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, Dawn O’Connell in a statement. “ASPR’s investment in this domestic manufacturer will increase the availability of tests in the future.”
This is the fifth program to deliver at-home COVID tests launched by the Biden administration. AFP via Getty Images
The Biden administration’s latest initiative follows four previous delivery rounds that provided more than 755 million people with free COVID tests, according to HHS.
Although the COVID-19 public health emergency was officially declared over in May, public health officials across the country have begun to note a steady increase in cases of the virus.
“As we head into fall and winter, and once again see an increase in COVID across the State, I urge all New Yorkers to remember that COVID is a treatable disease, and we now have an updated vaccine that will help reduce the chances you. serious illness and hospitalization. Remember, this is about personal protection, personal prevention and personal well-being,” said New York State Department of Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald earlier this month.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
