Inslee announces free at-home testing, masks amid surge in omicron cases
Amid a surge in coronavirus cases due to omicron variant, Gov. Jay Inslee announced expanded at home-testing, higher vaccination capacity and free masks in an attempt to contain the spread.
Washington has experienced a huge surge in cases over the last few weeks as the omicron variant has taken hold locally.
Inslee announced several steps the state is taking to help control the surge and flatten the curve.
The key points are:
Free at-home tests that will be distributed to underserved communities; tests will also be available to order online free of charge in a few weeks
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https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/inslee-announces-free-at-home-testing-masks-amid-surge-in-omicron-cases/ar-AAStkZd
Washington Orders 5.5 Million COVID-19 Tests As Demand Surges
OLYMPIA, WA — As the omicron variant of COVID-19 sweeps across Washington, residents are flocking to mass testing sites in droves— but many testing sites and other health care providers are struggling to keep up with the surge in demand.
Testing supply has been a growing problem across Puget Sound this holiday season. In King County, Executive Dow Constantine has announced plans to buy 700,000 additional COVID-19 tests to meet the rush. To the south, Pierce County has had such a spike in demand it had to open an additional mass testing site at the state fairgrounds, and shutter another site over crowding concerns.
To make sure there are enough tests to go around — and hopefully tamp down on this new wave of infections that threatens to overwhelm local hospitals — Gov. Jay Inslee announced on Wednesday that Washington had set aside $50 million to buy an additional 5.5 million rapid COVID-19 antigen tests. As of Wednesday, the governor said the state had just 800,000 tests on hand.
Of the 5.5 million incoming tests, 2 million are expected by the end of the week. 2 million more will arrive the week after. 1 million of the tests will go to local schools, a move Inslee said is necessary to keep children in the classroom.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/washington-orders-5-5-million-covid-19-tests-as-demand-surges/ar-AAStvBm
