As part of a sweeping new set of mandates and guidelines announced by President Joe Biden yesterday to try to stem the rising tide of COVID cases, anyone who wonders if they have the virus should be eligible for a low-cost test.
Within days, Amazon, Kroger and Walmart will be offering at-home, rapid tests at cost, according to the Biden administration.
"Americans will be able to buy these tests at their local retailers or online for up to 35% less starting by the end of this week" and continuing for the next three months, the White House said Thursday.
The deal comes through partnerships the US government forged with three of the country's top retailers. With 2,800 retail stores in 35 states, Kroger is the nation's biggest supermarket chain, while discount chain Walmart operates more than 5,300 Walmart and Sam's Club locations in all 50 states. E-commerce giant Amazon is the world's biggest retail seller outside of China, CBS News reported.
Amazon confirmed its participation to CBS News. "We're proud to work with the Biden administration to increase access to affordable, high-quality, FDA-authorized tests, to keep us moving toward a full recovery," Brian Huseman, the company's vice president of public policy, wrote in an email.
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This initiative comes as part of a far-reaching federal mandates that now require many unvaccinated workers to test negative for the virus on a weekly basis to keep their jobs.