With more people venturing out of the house this summer, the spread of COVID-19 isn’t slowing down. Statewide New Jersey is reporting 3,392 new positive tests and eight confirmed deaths, but that number may be an undercount, given how many people are testing at home now. At-home testing could be key to tracking infections and preventing the spread of the virus.
Now, every home in the U.S. is eligible to order a third round of free at-home tests, that will give you results within 30 minutes and no lab drop-off is required. In addition to the availability of at-home tests, pharmacists can now prescribe the leading COVID-19 pill directly to patients under a new U.S. policy. The change is intended to expand the use of Pfizer’s drug Paxlovid. The Food and Drug Administration said pharmacists can begin screening patients to see if they are eligible for Paxlovid and then prescribe the medication, which has been shown to curb the worst effects of COVID-19.
