Doubling home COVID tests for Americans

By Zeke Miller | Related press

WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden on Thursday announced that the government will double to 1 billion rapid, at-home COVID-19 tests to be distributed free of charge to Americans, along with “quality masks.” high,” as he emphasized his efforts to “boost” resources to help the country combat the spike in coronavirus cases.

Biden also announced that starting next week, 1,000 military medical personnel will begin deploying across the country to help overwhelmed medical facilities alleviate staff shortages caused by the potentially contagious omicron variant. high. Speaking at the White House, he said six additional medical teams would be deployed to Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio and Rhode Island.

Many facilities are struggling as their workers are quarantined at home due to the virus at the same time as the spike in nationwide COVID-19 cases. The new rollout will be based on other federal health workers who have been sent to states to help with severe shortages.

Biden acknowledged that, “I know we’re all disappointed as we head into this new year” as virus cases reach new heights. But he stressed that it remains “an epidemic of the unvaccinated.”

Both vaccinated and unvaccinated people have tested positive for the virus, but Biden noted health figures show that people are less likely to get serious illness and die if they’ve been vaccinated. vaccines: “What happened after that couldn’t be more different”.

Biden’s comments come as his administration focuses on easing disruption caused by a spike in cases that also contribute to grocery shortages and flight cancellations, rather than preventing them from doing so. prevent the transmission of the virus.

On Tuesday, Janet Woodcock, acting head of the Food and Drug Administration, told Congress that the highly transmissible strain would infect “most people” and the focus should shift to ensure that critical services can continue uninterrupted.

“I think it’s hard to process what’s really happening right now, which is: Most people will get COVID, okay?” she speaks. “What we need to do is make sure hospitals can still function – transportation, other essential services are not disrupted while this happens.”

Biden said he is directing his team to double its procurement of COVID-19 rapid tests to be delivered to Americans free of charge through an upcoming federal website, as he seeks to respond to the comments. criticized for shortages and long lines for tests. The initial order was for 500 million tests, and now the federal government will buy 1 billion home test kits.

Biden said initial batches of testing kits will be available starting next week, when the administration launches a new website where Americans can request free tests. The rest of the tests will be delivered in the coming months.

Biden also announced that for the first time his administration plans to make “high-quality masks,” including N95s, that are most effective at preventing transmission of the virus, provided free of charge. fee. He said his administration would announce details next week.

The federal government has a stockpile of more than 750 million N95 masks, the White House said this week. And while research has shown these masks offer better protection, they’re often more uncomfortable, and health officials haven’t changed their guidelines to recommend against wearing them. with less protective fabric.

“The best mask is the one you’ll wear and can wear throughout the day,” said Dr Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Biden encouraged Americans to wear masks while indoors to slow the spread of the virus, even as he acknowledged they were a “pain in the neck.”

“Next week, we’ll be announcing how we’re making high-quality masks for the American people for free,” he added.

During Thursday’s speech, Biden was joined by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who recently recovered from his own COVID-19 case, and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell. They heard about the work of the more than 800 military personnel who have helped civilian hospitals since Thanksgiving, and the more than 15,000 National Guard members whose work supports immunizations, testing, and patient care that are being treated. covered by the federal government.

The White House said it spoke to federal employees already in Arizona, Michigan and New York to hear about their experiences.

General Dan Hokanson, director of the National Guard, said that as of Thursday, there are currently 15,200 Guard members around the country supporting COVID-19 missions.

State Guard leaders from Ohio, New York and Colorado told reporters on Thursday that they only use vaccinated troops for missions that interact directly with the public, including including at testing and patient care points in hospitals.

The White House said teams will support Henry Ford Hospital just outside Detroit, University Hospital in Newark, University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque, Coney Island Hospital in Brooklyn, Cleveland Clinic and Rhode Island Hospital in Providence.

The Defense Department’s deployment will join another team sent by the Department of Health and Human Services, according to Bob Riney, president of Healthcare Operations and chief executive officer of Henry Ford Health Systems. based in Detroit. He said the phases of the operation would come together “in a highly coordinated way.”

“They don’t overlap. They complement each other,” he told reporters on Thursday.

The first team of paramedics arrived on Sunday and went through an orientation session before helping patients on Monday. They are providing up to 24-bed care and supporting staff at Henry Ford Wyandotte with surgeries and inpatient care, Riney said.

The first phase runs until January 21, and the second team will arrive in 30 days. “We are looking at a total of 45 days of support and that has a much more meaningful impact,” he said.