Gatherings for the holidays present new hurdle for home testing supplies

ture, health experts warn that a winter surge could easily overwhelm supplies, WASHINGTON — Millions especially if holiday gathmore home tests for COVID- erings and colder weather 19 are hitting store shelves, continue sparking new outbut will there be enough for breaks across the country. Americans hoping to screen And, they note, the U.S. is themselves before holiday still far from having the kind gatherings? of cheap or free widespread

Gone are last year’s long testing seen in some Eurolines to get tested, thanks pean countries that were to nearly a year of vaccina- early adopters of the techtions, increased testing supnology. plies and quicker options. “Unfortunately, we’re But with many Americans still going to be playing unvaccinated and reports catch-up until next year or of infections among those until demand subsides,” said who’ve gotten the shots, Neil Sehgal, a health policy some are looking to home specialist at the University tests for an extra layer of proof Maryland. tection ahead of this year’s White House officials say festivities. the U.S. is on pace to have

Janis Alpine of Seattle is about 200 million home tests getting together with seven per month by December, relatives for Thanksgiving, quadrupling the number including her 97-year-old from this summer. Still, spot father. While everyone is vacshortages continue, particucinated, she plans to bring larly in cities and suburban enough Abbott rapid tests communities with higher for them to use. rates of testing.

“I’m just used to testing “I couldn’t find them for now,” said Alpine, who is the longest time,” said Denise retired. “Even though he’s Weiss, a retired musician in vaccinated, just getting a lit- suburban Philadelphia. tle bit sick is probably not the She was able to snap up best thing for a 97-year-old.” six tests online last month

She began testing her- and plans to share them with self regularly in September family members, particularly after flights to Las Vegas and her son and daughter who the East Coast for vacation. are traveling home via plane Because local pharmacies and train for Thanksgiving. sometimes sell out of tests, Market leader Abbott says she usually buys five packs at it is back to producing 50 mila time when she finds them. lion of its BinaxNow tests per

After weeks of shortages, month, after slashing prochains like CVS and Walgreens duction last summer when now say they have ample demand plummeted. Only supplies and recently lifted a few home tests are widely limits on how many can be available nationwide with purchased at one time. The new ones set to launch. shift comes after test makMuch of the upcoming ers ramped up production, supply won’t be available spurred by more than $3 bil- at places like CVS, Walmart lion in new purchasing conand Target. Bulk purchases tracts and assistance from the by federal and state officials government. Home tests are will be distributed to comtypically more than $10 each munity health centers, nursand take about 15 minutes. ing homes, schools and other

Despite the improving pic- government facilities.