MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) – If you’re hoping to get a home review kit before a New Year’s eve party, it can be tricky because they’re not prevalent everywhere.
There are many other people who stand in a long two- or three-hour line at check-in sites to make sure they don’t spread COVID-19, but maybe the wait is so long because there’s no other option.
“We’ve been trying to find some at home tests, we’ve tried a couple different pharmacies, weren’t able to find anything, everything online either not for sale or it was indefinite when it would be able to ship,” said Nathaniel Haack, one of the many struggling with trying find at-home testing kits.
Hayat Pharmacist Hashim Zaibak said it’s a problem that’s been here since before Christmas.
“There was a massive shortage of housing testing last week, especially with the Christmas holidays, many places, adding to us, are sold out,” Zaibak said.
He said there are considerations when they’re going to be had again, they may not be as affordable.
“Wholesalers have tripled the value of housing tests because of the high demand, so other people will see housing tests back on the market, but unfortunately at a higher value,” Zaibak said.
To meet this need, President Joe Biden said the administration will send 500 million home check kits to others who lose the fee starting in January.
However, there are concerns raised by the Food and Drug Administration that early research points to reduced effectiveness in detecting the Omicron variant.
Haack said something more will likely be done to meet testing needs.
“Who knows how many instances go undetected, because other people are willing to wait 3 hours online, or they can’t, not only don’t need to, but other people don’t have that time. I participate in a day of paintings to do,” Haack said.
Health officials said that even with home checks, following up on a PCR check at a control site is still a smart idea.
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