Polls suggest concern about covid is declining. But public-health officials are urging the government to prepare for the next wave
-2, hindering early recognition of new variants. The country also lagged behind in testing. Whereas Britons have had access to free rapid tests for over a year, Americans received their first round only last month. Lab tests were hard to come by, too: queues and waits for results were long.
On March 2nd the White House released its National Covid-19 Preparedness Plan. It has four parts: protect and treat covid, prepare for new variants, prevent economic and educational lockdowns, and continue to vaccinate the world. The plan includes a one-stop test-to-treat initiative: Americans can get a test for covid and, if they test positive, get a prescription for an antiviral drug free at pharmacy-based clinics and other health facilities.
“It is a lovely plan. Everything I would focus on is here,” says Dr Ranney. But she fears that the administration will not receive adequate funding. The plan requires money from Congress, and Mr Biden’s last coronavirus package for $1.9trn passed along party lines. “It’s not a typical American thing to say that we’re going to commit resources ahead of time,” says Dr Ranney. “I hope we have learned our lesson.
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