Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
1 Million COVID Tests In 1 Day: US Breaks Record
Reuters: U.S. Sets Record With Over One Million Coronavirus Tests In A Day
The United States set a one-day record with over 1 million coronavirus diagnostic tests being performed, but the country needs 6 million to 10 million a day to bring outbreaks under control, according to various experts. The country performed 1,061,411 tests on Saturday, according to data from The COVID Tracking Project, a volunteer-run effort to track the outbreak. (9/20)
The Hill: US Sets Record With 1M Coronavirus Tests Conducted, Well Short Of What Experts Say Is Needed
Single day testing numbers had decreased in recent weeks, with the U.S. testing an average 650,000 people a day during the week ending Sept. 13. In July, the U.S. tested an average of more than 800,000 people daily. A shortage of testing materials has made identifying those with COVID-19 difficult and has led to hours-long lines to get tested in certain areas like Houston and Miami when cases were surging there. (Coleman, 9/20)
In related news about COVID testing —
The Hill: Connecticut Democrat Tests Positive For Coronavirus
A Connecticut Democrat announced on Sunday that she had been diagnosed with coronavirus. Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.) tweeted that she would quarantine for two weeks after testing positive following several unsuccessful attempts to get tested. "This morning I received a positive COVID-19 test result and will be quarantined for the 14 days," she wrote. "After going to 2 urgent care centers yesterday, I finally got an appointment at a 3rd site and was tested this morning." (Bowden, 9/20)
FierceHealthcare: CVS Aims To Have 4,000 Drive-Thru Testing Sites Open By Mid-October
CVS Health is planning to double the number of its drive-thru testing sites by mid-October, the healthcare giant announced on Thursday. CVS intends to add more than 2,000 sites at its pharmacies in the next several weeks, bringing its total to more than 4,000 nationwide. The new locations will be opened in waves, beginning with 400 new sites opening on Friday. CVS currently offers testing in 33 states and the District of Columbia. (Minemyer, 9/17)
CNBC: Bill Gates: It's 'Outrageous' Americans Can't Get Coronavirus Test Results In 24 Hours
Microsoft co-founder and global health philanthropist Bill Gates criticized the current state of the United States’ response to the Covid-19 pandemic on Sunday, including slow turnaround times for tests. Gates told “Fox News Sunday” that the access to fast testing is still inadequate more than six months into the pandemic and that the U.S. was set up for a rough fall of virus cases. “Even today, people don’t get their results in 24 hours. It’s outrageous that we still have that,” Gates said. (Pound, 9/20)
