Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
FDA OKs At-Home Combined Test For Covid, Flu, And RSV
Axios: FDA Authorizes First Non-Prescription Test For COVID-19, Flu, RSV
The Food and Drug Administration authorized the first non-prescription COVID-19 test that can also detect the flu and RSV, the agency announced on Monday. In addition to COVID-19, the test can detect other respiratory viruses, including influenza A and B, commonly known as the flu, and respiratory syncytial virus, also known as RSV. With the newly authorized test from Labcorp, individuals can collect their own nasal swab at home and send the sample to Labcorp for testing. They can then access their results through an online portal, with a health care provider following up about positive or invalid results. (Shapero, 5/16)
Bloomberg: Covid Or Flu? FDA Approves At-Home Test For Multiple Viruses
The test is made by Labcorp, a laboratory testing company based in North Carolina, and is the first non-prescription test authorized to look for multiple respiratory viruses in one sample. Covid symptoms can be similar to those from other respiratory illnesses like the flu and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, so the new test is meant to help people more easily determine which virus they have. (Muller, 5/16)
And free covid tests are available again —
NBC News: Third Round Of Free Covid-19 Tests Now Available
The federal government started taking orders Monday for a third round of Covid-19 test kits to be mailed to any U.S. household. A Department of Health and Human Services website said Monday that all U.S. households were eligible to order a third round of tests. Each order now contains eight rapid antigen tests, the U.S. Postal Service website says. Previously, four tests were sent out at a time. A spokesperson for the White House said Monday night that more details were expected to be released Tuesday. (Helsel, 5/16)
NPR: COVIDtests.Gov Goes Live Again With More Free Tests
Americans can once again order free COVID-19 tests from the federal government by visiting COVIDtests.gov. In this round, the U.S. Postal Service will deliver eight free rapid antigen tests to any household in the U.S. that wants them, according to the website. That brings to sixteen the total tests offered per household so far. The site suddenly appeared active Monday to offer the third round of free tests without a prior announcement. The White House is expected to make it official Tuesday, but the site was fully functional and taking orders ahead of time. (Keith, 5/16)
In related news about the pandemic —
Bloomberg: US Set To Extend Covid Public Health Emergency Past July
The US government will extend the Covid-19 public-health emergency past mid-July, continuing pandemic-era policies as the nearly 2 1/2-year outbreak drags on. The Department of Health and Human Services has repeatedly renewed the public-health emergency since implementing it in January 2020. The declaration allows the US to grant emergency authorizations of drugs, vaccines and other medical countermeasures, as well as administer those products to millions of people at no out-of-pocket cost. It’s also enabled millions of Americans to get health coverage through Medicaid, among other benefits. (Griffin, 5/16)
