US Senators send letter to Biden urging him to expand COVID-19 Rapid Testing

Over 40 government officials send letter to President Biden

WASHINGTON, D.C. (KYMA, KECY) - United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), along with more than 40 House and Senate members, sent a letter to President Joe Biden recently regarding an expansion effort for COVID-19 Rapid Testing.

These government officials want assurance as the United States increases numbers on positive Coronavirus-related cases.

With a recent spike in cases for Omicron and possible other variants, the letter calls for more accessibility for rapid testing.

“The rapid spread of the Omicron variant over the past weeks suggests that Americans are in a dramatically more vulnerable position than we had anticipated being just last month. There is no time to waste, and widespread and affordable access to rapid tests will be an integral part of our country’s public health response to the Omicron variant and through the duration of the pandemic,” the letter began.

California Senator Padilla signed this letter as the state reached a record high of over 43,000 infections.

“[A]s the Omicron variant spreads and we enter an ominous and unprecedented next phase of this pandemic, it is critical that we ensure these efforts meet the severity of the moment. We strongly encourage you to take additional, immediate steps to eliminate existing barriers to COVID-19 rapid tests and ensure robust access to free over-the-counter rapid tests throughout the country for the duration of the pandemic,” the letter continued.