Biden Administration Not Ruling Out Covid Testing For Domestic Flights

Roll Call: Administration Considers COVID-19 Tests For Domestic Flights
Despite bipartisan concern about a proposal to require domestic air travelers to take a COVID-19 test before being permitted to board a flight, two Biden administration officials say the administration is still considering the idea. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky, in separate appearances Sunday and Monday, both refused to rule out the idea of requiring all domestic air passengers to test negative for COVID-19 tests before flying. Currently, the CDC recommends passengers get tested before and after air travel and self-quarantine for seven days.  (Wehrman, 2/8)

Bloomberg: CDC Director Says Covid Tests For US Domestic Flights Could Ease Spread
The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggested that testing people for the coronavirus before U.S. domestic flights could help reduce transmission, as she urged state and local leaders to maintain steps to limit Covid-19’s spread. Requiring air travelers to receive a negative coronavirus test before boarding could be “another mitigation measure,” CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said Monday during a press briefing. She didn’t say whether the CDC would move forward with the policy, which the Biden administration is actively considering. (LaVito and Wingrove, 2/8)

Fox News: Biggs Introduces Bill To Bar Biden Administration From Mandating COVID-19 Testing For Domestic Travel
Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., on Monday introduced legislation to bar the Biden administration from introducing a mandate that passengers on domestic flights have a negative COVID-19 test before flying -- warning it would devastate the airline industry. (Shaw, 2/8)

In related news on covid testing —

360Dx: Biden Admin Finalizing Contracts To Boost At-Home COVID Tests
Members of the White House COVID-19 Response Team announced on Friday that the Biden administration is finalizing contracts with six companies to quickly increase domestic testing capability for at-home SARS-CoV-2 tests. The deal would result in 61 million point-of-care or at-home tests available by the end of the summer, which Andy Slavitt, the senior adviser for the COVID-19 response team, said would "change things pretty significantly" for the country. The announcement follows the news earlier this week that the US Department of Defense awarded $231.8 million to Ellume USA to produce the Ellume COVID-19 Home Test. (2/8)

The Washington Post: For $149, This Oakland Airport Vending Machine Dispenses Covid Tests
Vending machines give us candy bars, soda, headphones and even cupcakes. But the latest dispenser at the airport in Oakland, Calif., is distributing something more critical: coronavirus tests. The two machines, at each of Oakland’s terminals, work like pretty much any modern vending machine — make a selection on the screen and reach down to pick up your choice. In this case, though, the tests carry a significantly higher price tag (about $149) than a bottled water. But the cost of the test can be submitted to insurance later for reimbursement. (Lerman, 2/5)

Also —

Reuters: UK Mulls Tougher Testing For International Arrivals As Virus Variants Spread 
Britain is looking at greater testing of all people who have arrived from abroad while they are self-isolating to defend against new variants of the virus that causes COVID-19, a minister said on Tuesday. Airlines have been brought to their knees by the pandemic, with travel restrictions forcing once fast-growing brands like Norwegian to fight for survival while established names like British Airways have raised cash and laid off thousands of staff. (2/9)