COVID at-home tests: White House reports surge in demand as federal distribution stops
A fall COVID-19 surge is expected
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The White House said Thursday that requests for at-home COVID-19 tests have increased.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that the administration is "going to do everything we can to get people their tests."
However, this comes as the federal program offering free at-home COVID-19 tests to U.S. residents has ended.
Interested parties clicking on COVID.gov/tests now see a message that the program was suspended on Friday due to a lack of funding from Congress.
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FILE - Youngstown City Health Department worker Faith Terreri grabs two at-home COVID-19 test kits to be handed out during a distribution event, Dec. 30, 2021, in Youngstown, Ohio. (AP Photo/David Dermer, File / AP Newsroom)
People who placed orders before Friday will have them fulfilled by the U.S. Postal Service.
"If Congress provides funding to replenish the nation’s stockpile of tests, we will work to resume distribution of free tests through COVID.gov/Tests," the FAQ section reads.
In response to the shutdown, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services launched its own program for residents to get free at-home rapid tests.
SAN ANSELMO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 04: In this photo illustration, free iHealth COVID-19 antigen rapid tests from the federal government sit on a U.S. Postal Service envelope after being delivered on February 04, 2022 in San Anselmo, California. (Photo Illustration by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images / Getty Images)
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Other states, like Minnesota, already offered free tests using state resources.
An Abbott BinaxNOW Covid-19 antigen self test is displayed for a photograph before being distributed to conference attendees ahead of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) at Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) on January 2, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevad (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)
All of this comes ahead of an anticipated fall COVID-19 surge.
On Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gave the final OK for updated COVID-19 vaccines targeting the omicron strain.
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BA.5 is responsible for about 89% of new infections.
Reuters contributed to this report.