Biden administration health officials are telling COVID-19 test manufacturers and laboratories that the demand for tests could double or even triple over the next two months, five people with knowledge of the matter told POLITICO.
The supply of tests could expand by the need to conduct 3 to 5 million tests per day by late January or early February, according to internal modeling developed by the Health and Human Services Department’s Testing and Diagnostic Working Group.
The U.S. is currently recording more than 1.6 million daily tests, according to a tracker maintained by Johns Hopkins University.
The estimate rests on assumptions that the Omicron variant is three to five times more transmissible than Delta, and that it will become the nation's dominant Covid-19 strain within four weeks, one of the people said.
36 states have now reported Omicron cases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky said Wednesday.
Biden officials have a growing concern of whether the manufacturing of lab-based PCR, professional point-of-care and at-home tests will be able to keep up with potential demand.
The Department of Health and Human Services is “modeling for a range of scenarios to prepare for potential future public health needs,” an HHS official said.
"Testing demand involves many behavioral variables, but we are focused on preparedness and continuing to make sure plenty of tests are available along with vaccines, boosters, and other tools to help protect the American people," the official told POLITICO.
Related
Related
