Tag: covid-19 test

LA County Officials Warn of Fake COVID-19 Tests, Identity Theft

LOS ANGELES—Local officials are warning of fraudulent COVID-19 tests online and at pop-up COVID-19 testing locations, as the demand for COVID-19 tests surges along with infections due to the Omicron variant. Sellers of fake tests are also stealing patient data for purposes of identity theft, according to Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger. “The harder…


LA County Restarts Take-Home COVID-19 Test Program

LOS ANGELES—Los Angeles County reintroduced a take-home program for COVID-19 test kits Jan. 10 as a way to expand testing during the rapid surge in infections. The county paused a similar delivery-only program a week earlier due to “logistics of processing these kits,” according to authorities. The county Department of Health Services said the program…


Biden Admin Signs Deal to Kickstart Delivery of 500 Million Free At-Home Tests for COVID-19

The Biden administration confirmed on Friday it has finalized a deal to start providing Americans with a total of 500 million free rapid COVID-19 tests for at-home use. “We are actively finalizing the details of the distribution mechanism, including a website, as we’ve talked about. I would expect us to provide those details next week….


LA Testing Sites Fully Booked Following COVID-19 Surge

PASADENA, Calif.—As people are heading back to work and school following the holiday break, many COVID-19 testing centers are booked until next week. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health reported nearly 45,000 cases over New Year’s weekend, putting testing centers under strain. Madison Torres, a local resident, was waiting in line to take…


UK Scrambles to Secure Supplies of COVID-19 Tests Amid Surging Demand

The UK government is scrambling to secure supplies of COVID-19 tests to meet a surge in demand. The demand for testing has increased sharply as the government tries to slow the spread of the new Omicron variant of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. During a visit to a vaccination centre on Wednesday, Prime Minister…


Flights Cancelled on Christmas Eve Disrupt Aussie Travel

Hundreds of Australians preparing to reunite with their families for Christmas have experienced disruptions after three major airlines cancelled and rescheduled dozens of flights on Christmas Eve. Australia’s busiest route between Sydney and Melbourne was the most affected as Jetstar and Virgin Australia cancelled 22 flights between the two cities on Dec. 24. Both airlines have…


Air Travelers Arriving in United States to Face Tougher COVID-19 Testing After Omicron Emergence: CDC

Air travelers entering the United States are set to face tougher COVID-19 testing requirements following the discovery of the Omicron coronavirus variant, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed Tuesday. U.S. citizens and foreign nationals arriving in the United States will soon be required to present a negative COVID-19 test performed within one day of departure, a change from the current…


Interstate Christmas Holiday May Cost Families Thousands of Dollars in COVID Tests

International travellers entering Australia are facing up to $450 per person for COVID-19 testing, with a maximum fee of $1,800 for a family of four. The tourism industry is calling on the government to allow international travellers to use cheaper rapid antigen tests so that the expensive testing fees do not cripple tourism recovery. Medicare…


Washington State University Fires Football Coach, 4 Others for Not Complying With Vaccine Mandate

Washington State University fired football coach Nick Rolovich and four assistant coaches on Monday for failing to comply with a state mandate to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Governor Jay Inslee announced in August that all state employees, higher education, childcare, and K-12 education employees, and most health and long-term care providers need to be fully vaccinated with a…


Buttigieg Says COVID-19 Testing Requirement for Domestic Air Travel Is Being Considered

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has suggested the federal government may require proof of a negative COVID-19 test result in order to board domestic passenger jets. Buttigieg told “Axios on HBO” in an interview that aired Sunday that there is currently “an active conversation” with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on whether to…