Efforts by the federal government to support private industry in developing, producing, and distributing COVID-19 diagnostic tests saved approximately 1.4 million lives and prevented an estimated 7 million patient hospitalizations during the pandemic, according to a peer-reviewed study published in the January 2 edition of The Lancet Public Health. The study is the first scientific analysis of the impact that diagnostic testing can have during a pandemic.
“Making sure COVID tests were widely available helped to save lives and protect millions of Americans from severe illness. I’m proud of the work that HHS led, in partnership with the private sector, community leaders, and many others, to make sure anyone who needed one could get a free test,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “The Biden-Harris Administration has managed COVID-19 so it no longer meaningfully disrupts the way we live our lives. Moreover, we continue to develop cutting-edge treatments and use what we learned to better prepare our nation for any future public health emergency.”
“Across the federal government, scientists, contract specialists, and logistics experts worked together with industry to ensure COVID-19 tests were available in laboratories, hospitals, clinics, and at home as quickly and as broadly as possible during the height of the pandemic,” said Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response Dawn O’Connell. “These efforts protected millions of Americans from severe illness and death.” Learn more on aspr.hhs.gov.