With the holiday season upon us and Omicron infections rising as it quickly becomes the dominant variant around the globe, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic adds another layer of uncertainty for consumers who are trying to determine the best way to keep themselves and their families safe as they consider traveling to visit loved ones, often for the first time since the pandemic began.
Along with vaccination, masks, social distancing, and other precautions, at-home COVID-19 antigen tests continue to be an important part of that safety calculation. In fact, accessibility to at-home tests is a key element of today’s announcement by the Biden Administration aimed at supporting better detection and prevention of COVID-19 this winter. Add in the annual flu season, which experts predict may be worse than usual, and at-home testing will provide more clarity to individuals, as the flu and COVID share many similar symptoms.
Today we received good news with the Biden administration’s announcement that they plan to purchase 500 million rapid COVID-19 tests and distribute them free of cost to Americans. There are now multiple at-home testing products available from which consumers can choose. The difficulty that comes with this influx of new products is determining which product best serves consumers and their families is more confusing than ever.
“People are eager to return to a sense of pre-COVID normalcy after spending last year’s holiday season separated from their families and friends. But they are also understandably anxious, particularly with the arrival of the Omicron variant, to make sure they’re doing everything they can to protect their families during those holiday gatherings – including stocking up on at-home COVID tests to help everyone stay safe while they’re together. The difficulty is knowing which at-home test to choose, each with important differences that aren’t always immediately obvious or easy to decipher,” said Dr. Sean Parsons, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Ellume.
Parsons continued, “Together with public health officials and our colleagues in the medical community, Ellume is committed to providing education to consumers as they seek to better understand their options for regular at-home COVID testing. Understanding the available options serves to help us all enjoy this long-awaited holiday season safely.”
