COVID Test Shortage in the U.S.

In the wake of the new omicron variant, America is facing another COVID crisis as at-home tests begin to sell out everywhere, and rapid tests are becoming increasingly limited. Although around 650,000 cases have been reported as the daily average, this testing shortage likely means that the true number of cases is much higher. This shortage is the result of a sky-rocketing increase in demand that no test manufacturing companies could have predicted, and access is even more limited for marginalized communities. 

Executive director of the Massachusetts Public Health Association, Carlene Pavlos, stated: “The inequities have continued to plague communities of color and low-income communities across the state. They continue to be the hardest hit.” Public health experts say that this is due to factors such as minimal access to transportation, language barriers, and jobs that they cannot afford to miss. Additionally, people of color are disproportionately affected by a deep rooted lack of access to health care, which means a lack of access to treatment, and has led to higher COVID death rates amongst these vulnerable communities. 

Not only are these groups faced with significant barriers to access COVID tests, but there are also far more testing sites in areas with primarily white populations, according to Coders Against COVID, a volunteer group that “builds tech solutions to address the most pressing needs of those affected by COVID-19.” In fact, ZIP codes with at least a 75% white population have, on average, one testing site per every 14,500 people, whereas ZIP codes that are at least 75% people of color have an average of one site for every 23,300 people. Residents of areas with limited test sites often have to wait in line for hours on end.

With a current total of four million cases across America, panic remains high for all of those who are seeking tests, and it has become clear that income level and location are the two main factors that determine who gets access to this limited resource. 

As of Wednesday, January 19th, Americans can access free at-home tests (four per household) by ordering them on a website, which should hopefully help to remedy this problem.