President Trump announced a new federal initiative Monday to expand testing of the coronavirus.
“We’re deploying to full strength and power of the federal government to help states, cities, to help local governments get this horrible plague over with, and over with fast,” Trump said.
The administration has been under increasing pressure to expand coronavirus testing now that some states are reopening their economies. The new plan will expand testing to 2% of the U.S. population.
Dr. Deborah Birx, the coordinator for the White House Coronavirus Task Force, outlined the three parts of the plan. They include robust diagnostic testing plans, timely monitoring systems, and rapid response programs.
Robust testing is supposed to increase the amount of tests and testing platforms and increase laboratory supplies available to states and local governments. Timely monitoring is designed to not only test for those infected with the coronavirus but to more effectively monitor those who are at high risk. Rapid response programs involve the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention working with state and local governments to ensure both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients are quickly tracked and traced.
Birx said that the goal is “to ensure that we not only control this epidemic but can predict outbreaks before they expand.”
Adm. Brett Giroir, assistant secretary of health and human services, further outlined eight steps that the administration needed to take to put the plan into action that included mobilizing the private sector to develop tests, identifying and expanding public and private sector testing infrastructure, and strengthening the testing supply chain.
