Biden's next phase of COVID-19
White House to announce "test to treat" program with local pharmacies tapped to provide on-the-spot COVID-19 tests and treatments
In the State of the Union address, the President touted the success of Pfizer’s Paxlovid anti-viral pills that prevent severe COVID-19 and the effectiveness of the USA’s COVID-19 vaccines. And, he said Pfizer will deliver 3 million pills to the U.S. government by the end of April.
The combination of better treatments, effective vaccines, and better knowledge of how COVID-19 works means that workers can return to downtown offices, schools can stay open, and COVID-19 no longer will control everyday life, the president said.
Here’s what a White House official told me about “test to treat:”
Starting later in March, local pharmacies and community health centers will begin offering COVID-19 tests, and those who test positive can get antiviral pills “on-the-spot,” the official said.
By shortening the time between testing and treatment, those treatments are more likely to be successful and prevent severe disease. Select CVS, Walgreens and Kroger pharmacies are among the participants.
Antiviral pills will also be distributed directly to long-term care facilities.
We’ll get more details Wednesday, when the White House COVID-19 task force will provide a briefing.
I will have more — including a science update — on Thursday.