Episode

A Covid Testing Crisis, Again
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31:44
Published: Wed Dec 22 2021
Description

By the end of last year, if you needed a coronavirus test, you could get one. But when vaccines arrived, focus shifted.Many of the vaccinated felt like they didn’t need tests and demand took a nosedive. Testing sites were closed or converted into vaccination sites. And Abbott Laboratories, a major test manufacturer, wound up destroying millions.However, with the surge of the new Omicron variant, which is less susceptible to vaccines, demand for testing is back — and it is outstripping supply.Guest: Sheryl Gay Stolberg, a Washington correspondent, covering health policy for The New York Times.Sign up here to get The Daily in your inbox each morning. And for an exclusive look at how the biggest stories on our show come together, subscribe to our newsletter. Background reading: President Biden came into office vowing to make coronavirus testing cheap and accessible, but matching supply with demand has been a persistent problem.For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. 

Chapters
The New York Times explores the ongoing COVID-19 testing shortages in the US, the reasons why the problem still exists two years into the pandemic, and what the Biden administration can do to address it.
00:00 - 01:12 (01:12)
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COVID-19
Summary

The New York Times explores the ongoing COVID-19 testing shortages in the US, the reasons why the problem still exists two years into the pandemic, and what the Biden administration can do to address it.

Episode
A Covid Testing Crisis, Again
Podcast
The Daily
This podcast is a discussion about the frustrating experiences of standing in line for hours to get tested for COVID-19, affecting retail workers and regular individuals alike.
01:12 - 03:51 (02:38)
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COVID-19 testing
Summary

This podcast is a discussion about the frustrating experiences of standing in line for hours to get tested for COVID-19, affecting retail workers and regular individuals alike.

Episode
A Covid Testing Crisis, Again
Podcast
The Daily
The CDC's strict control over testing for coronavirus, combined with the agency's botched test, set back the schedule for private companies to create tests in the US, ultimately leading to a delay in widespread testing early on in the pandemic.
03:51 - 08:31 (04:40)
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CDC
Summary

The CDC's strict control over testing for coronavirus, combined with the agency's botched test, set back the schedule for private companies to create tests in the US, ultimately leading to a delay in widespread testing early on in the pandemic.

Episode
A Covid Testing Crisis, Again
Podcast
The Daily
The Omicron variant is causing mild or no symptoms in vaccinated individuals, allowing them to unknowingly spread the virus to vulnerable populations.
08:31 - 21:47 (13:15)
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COVID-19
Summary

The Omicron variant is causing mild or no symptoms in vaccinated individuals, allowing them to unknowingly spread the virus to vulnerable populations. Frequent testing is necessary for workplaces and schools to continue operating safely, but it has also led to excessive inventory levels and waste.

Episode
A Covid Testing Crisis, Again
Podcast
The Daily
The federal government will be setting up emergency testing sites in areas that need additional testing capacity and will begin in New York City, where several federally run testing sites will be established, with plans to scale up to other places.
21:47 - 26:35 (04:48)
listen on Spotify
COVID-19
Summary

The federal government will be setting up emergency testing sites in areas that need additional testing capacity and will begin in New York City, where several federally run testing sites will be established, with plans to scale up to other places.

Episode
A Covid Testing Crisis, Again
Podcast
The Daily
New York City officials have announced the opening of 23 new testing sites to cater to the surging demand for COVID-19 tests.
26:35 - 31:37 (05:01)
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COVID-19
Summary

New York City officials have announced the opening of 23 new testing sites to cater to the surging demand for COVID-19 tests. The announcement coincided with President Biden's plan of opening federal testing centers in the city, while the first known death from the Omicron variant in the US was confirmed in Texas on Tuesday.

Episode
A Covid Testing Crisis, Again
Podcast
The Daily