United States finalizes purchase of COVID tests, which will be distributed free of charge

WASHINGTON, Jan.4 (Reuters) – The Biden administration is finalizing contracts for 500 million rapid COVID-19 tests that it plans to distribute free of charge to Americans who request them, spokeswoman Jen Psaki said on Tuesday.

The Omicron variant of the coronavirus has spread rapidly across the United States since its detection on December 1, replacing Delta as the dominant strain and triggering a new wave of infections that has pushed recorded daily cases close to the bar. million Monday.

Psaki did not share details on when the tests will be available. The administration, she said, is finalizing contracts and expects the manufacturers’ first shipment to arrive soon.

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The website that will be used to request the free tests will be up and running later this month, she added.

“It’s about making them free and accessible to people who want them,” Psaki said.

President Joe Biden announced the free testing initiative in December as the Omicron variant sent Americans scrambling for testing. Tests have become difficult to find in many areas, and long lines often form where they are available.

The Omicron variant is estimated to account for more than 95% of coronavirus infections circulating in the United States as of January 1, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Tuesday.

The fast-spreading variant was first detected in southern Africa and Hong Kong in November and has since swept the world at lightning speed, although there are signs that it may cause milder symptoms than previous variants. brought some relief.