“The Biden administration is rethinking its approach to Covid-19 testing as the pandemic enters an uncertain phase – one in which new infections have dropped to the lowest level since the spring of 2020, but the highly contagious Delta variant is driving fresh outbreaks. Federal health officials, along with testing labs and test makers, are weighing how to implement the lessons they have learned from this pandemic to prepare for the next one. That includes what types of government incentives could help keep companies prepared to quickly develop tests in the face of a new emergency, and whether to stockpile key testing supplies. The administration also recently retooled the leadership of its Covid-19 testing and diagnostic workgroup.”

“But with newer variants like Delta circulating, the administration must also ensure that existing tests are capable of detecting emerging strains – and maintain enough testing capacity to detect and tamp down new bursts of infections. The government is working with the diagnostics industry to ensure the gains in domestic manufacturing are not lost over time. But it is not yet out of the danger zone with Covid-19. With public health experts warning that Delta could drive up cases in under-vaccinated areas, the Biden team is pushing ahead with plans to establish testing programs in schools and homeless shelters as the fall approaches. It is also pushing test makers to create products that can be used at home to simultaneously screen for flu, Covid and other common respiratory viruses. ‘I do think it’s important for HHS, the federal government and the lab community to seriously think about not needing to ramp up to where we were in January and last fall, but to be prepared for surges, and it may not be uniform,’ said Scott Becker, CEO of the Association of Public Health Laboratories” – Politico.