The new initiative comes as the White House faces mounting criticism over long lines and supply shortages for testing.
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration is increasing federal support for COVID-19 testing for schools in a bid to keep them open amid The White House announced Wednesday that a dedicated stream of 5 million rapid tests and 5 million lab-based PCR tests will be made available to schools starting this month to ease supply shortages and promote the safe reopening of schools.
said students need to be in their classrooms and the announcement shows the administration’s commitment to helping schools stay open. “We’re doing everything we can to make sure that our children have an opportunity to stay in school,” Cardona said Wednesday on CBS’ “CBS Mornings.” “That’s where they need to be, and we know we can do it safely.”
States are applying to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the tests, Cardona said, adding that he expected distribution to begin as early as next week. “We recognize that schools are the hubs of the community” and they should be open for instruction, the secretary added, saying it is “vital for our students.”