With No US Plan, 6 Bipartisan Governors Together Buy 3 Million Rapid Covid Tests

Since the federal government is refusing to lead on Covid for political reasons, states are banding together to circumvent that abdication of leadership. JL

Nicholas Reimann reports in Forbes:

A bipartisan group of governors are entering into an agreement to purchase 3 million “rapid point-of-care” coronavirus tests as part of a first of its kind, coordinated testing compact, while the federal government continues to lack a nationwide testing strategy. Maryland, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio and Virginia are all part of the agreement, which together have three Republican and three Democratic governors. More states, cities and local governments are expected to join the compact.

A bipartisan group of governors announced Tuesday that they were entering into an agreement to purchase 3 million “rapid point-of-care” coronavirus tests as part of a first of its kind, coordinated testing compact, while the federal government continues to lack a nationwide testing strategy.

KEY FACTS

Maryland, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio and Virginia are all part of the agreement, which together have three Republican and three Democratic governors.

The states seek to work together to push manufacturers to produce more tests that can deliver results in as little as 15 minutes.

A total of 3 million tests will be purchased, with the option of using the Rockefeller Foundation to assist with funding.

Each state will receive 500,000 tests.

More states, cities and local governments are expected to join the compact in “the coming days and weeks,” a news release said.

The states are currently in discussions with the companies Becton Dickinson and Quidel to produce the tests, according to the news release.

CRITICAL QUOTE

“With severe shortages and delays in testing and the federal administration attempting to cut funding for testing, the states are banding together to acquire millions of faster tests to help save lives and slow the spread of COVID-19,” said Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R), who led discussions of the compact and its Rockefeller Foundation funding over the past weeks.

KEY BACKGROUND

Coronavirus testing in the U.S. has increased on a massive scale throughout the pandemic, but complaints remain about the process, especially when it comes to how long it takes to get results. As coronavirus spread ramped up over the past several weeks in the U.S., so did demand for testing, with many people reporting a wait time of several days to hear results. 

TANGENT

Significant concerns exist over the future of testing in the U.S. after President Donald Trump suggested “slow the testing down” at a June campaign rally. How much funding will be set aside for testing is also a major point of discussion as Congress seeks to pass another stimulus package.