coronavirus testing Archives - Northwest Public Broadcasting

Early CDC Coronavirus Test Came With Inconsistent Instructions, Cost U.S. Weeks

By NPR News May 21, 2021

The CDC's early coronavirus test was poorly designed and it also came with problematic instructions, NPR has learned. CREDIT: Jessica McGowan/Getty Images

A flawed coronavirus test distributed by government scientists early in the pandemic was poorly designed and came with erroneous instructions that made it doubly difficult for labs to rely on the test's results, new records show. The shortcomings of the test kits cost the nation precious weeks as officials sought to detect virus hotspots and manage the outbreak.Read More

FDA Authorizes 2 Rapid, At-Home Coronavirus Tests

By NPR News April 1, 2021

The FDA said Wednesday that Abbott's BinaxNow test and Quidel's QuickVue can now be sold without a prescription for consumers to test themselves at home. CREDIT: Ted S. Warren/AP

Experts believe that the availability of at-home coronavirus tests could help slow the continued spread of the virus, which is contagious even when people are asymptomatic. Abbott's test will be available on grocery and drugstore shelves in the "coming weeks," according to a press release from the company. Quidel did not include a timeline in its release.Read More

White House Announces $10 Billion For COVID-19 Testing In Schools

By NPR News March 17, 2021

A student gives her coronavirus swab to Helenann Civian, the principal of South Boston Catholic Academy in Boston in January. The White House announced $10 billion to expand testing in K-12 schools. CREDIT: Suzanne Kreiter/Boston Globe via Getty Images

The Biden administration announced Wednesday that it will spend $10 billion to expand testing for schools, to aid in the president's goal to get schools open once again.Read More

U.S. Coronavirus Cases Dropped Dramatically Since January, But Can We Keep Them Down?

By NPR News February 27, 2021

pedestrians walk pas an outdoor dining outside patio

With coronavirus infections on a steady, six weeks long descent in the U.S., it's clear the worst days of the brutal winter surge have waned. Yet researchers are still not sure how sustainable the decline is. And a small but concerning uptick in cases in the last three days has health officials on edge.Read More

Why The Pandemic Is 10 Times Worse Than You Think

By NWPB News February 7, 2021

A nurse puts on personal protective equipment last month as she prepares to treat a COVID-19 patient last month at a rural Missouri hospital. CREDIT: Jeff Roberson/AP

Ever since the coronavirus reached the U.S., officials and citizens alike have gauged the severity of the spread by tracking one measure in particular: How many new cases are confirmed through testing each day. However, it has been clear all along that this number is an understatement because of testing shortfalls.Read More

U.S. Makes $231 Million Deal To Provide 15-Minute COVID-19 At-Home Tests

By NPR News February 1, 2021

Ellume, an Australian company, manufactures a 15-minute at-home test for the coronavirus, which causes COVID-19. Ellume Limited

The Biden administration has made a $231.8 million deal with an Australian company to boost availability of the first at-home rapid test for the coronavirus which causes COVID-19 that is available without a prescription. The test, made by Ellume, can send results to a smartphone within 15 minutes of receiving a sample.Read More

At-Home COVID Testing Is Growing. Can It Help Turn The Tide On The Pandemic?

By PBS Newshour January 17, 2021

If you’ve ever waited in a long line to receive a test for the coronavirus, or tried to get one and couldn’t, or waited a week to get the results, you may have wondered why it’s not easier and more convenient. In recent weeks, the Food and Drug Administration began approving over-the-counter COVID-19 tests for Americans to use at home, part of a wave of new options that Read More

FDA Authorizes First Home Coronavirus Test That Doesn’t Require A Prescription

By NPR News December 15, 2020

A new at-home test for the coronavirus has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The test will cost about $30 and will be available over-the-counter, according to the company who makes it, Ellume. CREDIT: Ellume Health

The new tests produce results completely at home within 15 minutes. Experts say they could be a 'game-changer' in helping people find out quickly if they need to isolate. Read More

Think Health Care Workers Are Tested Often For COVID-19? Think Again

By NPR News December 7, 2020

A nurse holds a candle during a vigil in Los Angeles last month for health care workers who have died from COVID-19. The vigil was organized by California Nurses United. Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

A majority of hospital nurses said they had never been tested for the coronavirus, according to a recent survey. Hospitals say they are simply following the CDC's guidance.Read More

Stock Sales By Leaders At Coronavirus Testing Company Raise Legal Concerns

By NPR News December 2, 2020

A lab gloved hand taking samples out of a batch of covid test tubes

Co-Diagnostics, a company that has provided coronavirus tests to three state governments, has come under intense scrutiny for claims about its tests' accuracy and stock sales by company leaders.Read More

Annual Apple Cup Rivalry Game Between UW And WSU Canceled Due To Positive COVID-19 Tests

By Scott Leadingham November 22, 2020

Washington State University coach Nick Rolovich walks along the sideline during the first half of the team's football game against Oregon in Pullman, Wash., Nov. 14, 2020. CREDIT: Young Kwak/AP

If you were unaware the Apple Cup was even happening this year, then you’re probably not alone. After all, the Pac-12 football season was canceled. Then it was back, three weeks ago, with a shortened 6-game season and safety protocols. Those required canceling games if a team couldn’t field a minimum number of 53 scholarship players. Read More

FDA Approves First At-Home Coronavirus Test; Likely Won’t Be Widely Available Until Spring

By NPR News November 18, 2020

A coronavirus test is administered in Salt Lake City in Tuesday. At-home coronavirus tests will offer faster results than the traditional tests. CREDIT: Rick Bowmer/AP

The Lucira COVID-19 All-In-One Test Kit is expected to provide results in 30 minutes or less. Its approval could help alleviate the strain on the nation's precarious coronavirus testing system.Read More

U.S. Hits 11 Million Coronavirus Cases, Adding 1 Million In A Week

By NPR News November 16, 2020

No vaccine available sign - person walking into Walgreens

More than 11 million confirmed coronavirus cases have been recorded in the U.S., according to Johns Hopkins University. The country recorded 166,555 new cases in the last day and 1,266 new deaths.Read More

Cities And States Are Imposing New COVID-19 Restrictions. Experts Say It’s Not Enough

By NPR News November 14, 2020

Medical workers wearing personal protective equipment register people in vehicles at a drive-through coronavirus testing site Monday in El Paso, Texas. Joel Angel Juarez/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Areas across the country are implementing preventive measures such as curfews. Some experts are questioning whether these minor changes will be enough to control the virus. Read More

Coronavirus Third Wave In Washington: Long Lines For Testing, People Turned Away

By Austin Jenkins November 13, 2020

Cars line up for coronavirus testing outside Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. Florida is one of many states reporting spikes in COVID-19 cases in recent days, as the number of confirmed cases worldwide has topped 10 million. Wilfredo Lee/AP

It used to be a busy day at the Providence COVID drive-up test site near Olympia was 100 cars. Recently, the site broke a one-day record with 352 drive ups. It's another sign of the “third wave” now underway.Read More

CDC Report: Officials Knew Coronavirus Test Was Flawed But Released It Anyway

By NPR News November 8, 2020

The flawed coronavirus test kits went out to public laboratories in February. An internal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention review obtained by NPR says the wrong quality control protocols were used. CREDIT: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention via AP

An unreleased CDC review obtained by NPR shows that lab officials knew an early coronavirus test kit had a high failure rate. They decided not to recall it and sent it to the nation's labs anyway.Read More

‘Enormous And Tragic’: U.S. Has Lost More Than 200,000 People To COVID-19

By NPR News September 22, 2020

The U.S. hit a tragic milestone Tuesday, recording more than 200,000 coronavirus deaths. Here, Chris Duncan, whose mother, Constance, 75, died from COVID-19 on her birthday, visits a COVID Memorial Project installation of 20,000 American flags on the National Mall. The flags are on the grounds of the Washington Monument, facing the White House. Win McNamee/Getty Images

The U.S. death toll has doubled since May. Some experts predict it could nearly double again before 2020 ends. "We are experiencing a tremendous amount of unnecessary suffering," one researcher says.Read More

University Of Idaho, With In-Person Classes, Reports COVID-19 Cases, But Not Like In Nearby Pullman

By Scott Leadingham September 2, 2020

On Monday, Aug. 31, the Moscow-based school reported 24 COVID-19 cases. That’s from over 2,300 recent tests on students and staff. Unlike in nearby Pullman across the border, Moscow has not seen a huge spike in cases. Washington State University is responding to a recent surge – more than 300 cases in Pullman in the past 10 days. Read More

6 Million Coronavirus Infections Now Confirmed In U.S., With Actual Count Likely Much Higher

By NPR News August 31, 2020

People stand in line for free COVID-19 testing at Bellevue Hospital in New York earlier this month. The daily number of new coronavirus cases reported in the U.S. has remained stubbornly high. CREDIT: Bryan R. Smith/AFP via Getty Images

Although daily COVID-19 deaths have fallen somewhat in recent days, the number of infections has continued to rise in many places with no end in sight.Read More

Experts Fear CDC’s Changed Guidelines Could Lead To Less COVID-19 Testing

By NPR News August 26, 2020

Testing contacts of those with confirmed cases of the coronavirus is a common public health practice. New CDC guidelines make it optional. CREDIT: David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

The agency now says contacts of people with COVID-19 don't necessarily need to get tested. Public health experts say less testing of potential carriers could lead to more spread of the disease. Read More

Pandemic Is Overwhelming U.S. Public Health Capacity In Many States. What Now?

By NPR News July 28, 2020

People wait in line outside a testing site in Florida. The state has seen unprecedented surges in coronavirus cases in recent weeks. CREDIT: Lynne Sladky/AP

With the coronavirus spreading out of control in many parts of the U.S., some experts say the strategy of testing and tracing can't contain the pandemic until lockdowns bring case numbers down.Read More

Unpublicized White House Report Has States Including Washington And Idaho In COVID ‘Red Zone’

By NWPB News July 17, 2020

Jess White, a registered nurse at UW Northwest, demonstrates to another nurse how to properly remove a mask on Thursday, March 12, 2020, at UW Medicine's drive-through testing clinic in Seattle. CREDIT: Megan Farmer/KUOW

A document prepared for the White House Coronavirus Task Force but not publicized suggests more than a dozen states, including Idaho and Washington, should revert to more stringent protective measures, limiting social gatherings to 10 people or fewer, closing bars and gyms and asking residents to wear masks at all times.Read More

3 Things The U.S. Can Do Right Now To Slow Coronavirus Spread

By PBS Newshour July 13, 2020

The Care19 mobile app, which the governors of North Dakota and South Dakota have asked residents to download to assist in contact tracing during the global outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), is seen on a phone in April 24, 2020. CREDIT: Paresh Dave/Reuters

Seven months since cases of the coronavirus were first reported, some countries have effectively combatted the virus and brought the spread under control. The United States is not one of them. But experts say it’s not too late.Read More

Where To Get Masks And Testing In Yakima County As Coronavirus Cases Near 8K

By Enrique Pérez de la Rosa July 7, 2020

A COVID-19 test kit. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has instructed state health officials to test all nursing home staff and residents in the coming weeks, according to a state doctor.

The county’s emergency management office has handed out more than 3 million pieces of protective equipment since March. That includes 770,000 masks to businesses, municipalities, and food banks and an additional 220,000 masks distributed to low-income residents. Read More

‘Going To Be Very Disturbing’: Dr. Anthony Fauci Warns Coronavirus Cases Could Reach 100K A Day

By NPR News June 30, 2020

Dr. Anthony Fauci testifies before the Senate alongside public health officials and members of the White House coronavirus task force on June 30, 2020. CREDIT: KEVIN DIETSCH//AFP via Getty Images

The Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions convened Tuesday to address plans to reopen schools and workplaces amid the coronavirus pandemic.Read More

2nd Inmate Dies, National Guard Deployed To Help With COVID Testing At Eastern Washington Prison

By NWPB News June 25, 2020

An image from the Washington State Department of Corrections website page for Coyote Ridge, a prison in eastern Washington with a capacity for 2,468 inmates. CREDIT: Washington DOC

Coyote Ridge has the highest number of confirmed coronavirus cases of any Washington state prison. The outbreak is concentrated within the Medium Security Complex portion of the prison, which houses more than 1,800 inmates. The total prison population is typically more than 2,400.Read More