US News: In a Bid to Safeguard Schools, Biden Rolls Out Free COVID Testing Program

WASHINGTON, US — In a bid to enhance COVID-19 mitigation efforts, the Biden administration unveiled a plan on Wednesday allowing schools nationwide to procure free COVID tests, as confirmed by the U.S. Department of Education. Set to be available from December onward, these tests can be utilized by schools to provide testing resources for students, families, staff, and broader school communities.

Roberto Rodriguez, the Education Department’s assistant secretary for planning, evaluation, and policy development, emphasized the user-friendly nature of these self-tests, highlighting their potential role in curbing the spread of COVID-19. “We encourage schools to make use of these free resources to safeguard students, parents, and staff throughout the 2023-24 school year,” Rodriguez stated.

The announcement comes on the heels of over 1.6 billion COVID-19 tests being distributed directly to homes, schools, long-term care facilities, health centers, and food banks over the past two years through federal distribution programs, according to the Education Department.

Despite Florida Governor Ron DeSantis championing his state’s record of keeping schools open during the pandemic, the issue of school closures remained contentious. COVID-related emergency room visits from adolescents surged at the school year’s onset, and the emergence of new COVID variants continues to pose challenges, even after President Biden officially declared the end of the pandemic emergency in May.

The release also disclosed that 4 million COVID tests are being distributed weekly, with this number expected to rise as school districts capitalize on the new program. The initiative will tap into an existing stockpile comprising hundreds of millions of tests.

Earlier this month, the Biden administration also announced another round of free COVID tests for Americans. The USPS reported shipping four additional tests starting Monday, and the Department of Health and Human Services noted that 14 million American households have already requested tests. Households that missed the opportunity to order their initial batch of four free tests earlier this fall will be eligible to place two orders through the USPS, receiving a total of eight free rapid antigen COVID-19 tests.