Biden Says No More Lockdowns, Will Distribute 500 Million Home Test Kits

We are prepared for the rising case levels, and @POTUS will detail how we will respond to this challenge. He will remind Americans that they can protect themselves from severe illness from COVID-19 by getting vaccinated and getting their booster shot when they are eligible.

— Karine Jean-Pierre (@PressSec) December 18, 2021

More details have emerged.   

 500 Million At-Home Covid-19 Test Kits On the Way

The WSJ reports Biden Administration to Distribute 500 Million At-Home Covid-19 Test Kits

The Biden administration is preparing to distribute 500 million free at-home Covid-19 testing kits to Americans and deploy military doctors and nurses to overburdened hospitals this winter, as the Omicron variant spreads around the country.

“This is not a speech about locking the country down,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday.

Mr. Biden will announce that he is deploying federal emergency medical response teams to six states: Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Arizona, New Hampshire and Vermont. He also will instruct Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to prepare to send 1,000 military medical personnel—including doctors, nurses and paramedics—to hospitals in January and February as needed, the White House said.

Mr. Biden will announce that the administration is setting up new federal testing sites around the country, with the first opening in New York City this week. The initial delivery of at-home testing kits from the 500 million being purchased by the government will begin in January. The tests will be distributed to the public free by mail through a new website, the officials said.

A White House official said the administration would disclose more information about the type of tests it is purchasing after the procurement is finalized. The 500 million figure is based on what manufacturing capacity can handle, the official said.

Reversal 

The decision to distribute free tests directly to the public appears to be a shift in strategy for the White House. Earlier this month, Ms. Psaki dismissed a question from a reporter about sending tests to every American. “Should we just send one to every American? Then what happens if every American has one test? How much does that cost and then what happens after that?” Ms. Psaki asked. Jeff Zients, the White House’s coronavirus coordinator, also said recently that the U.S. had no plans to mail out tests to every American.

Fast-acting, at-home rapid tests are less sensitive than laboratory-based PCR tests, but provide results in minutes and can be taken from anywhere. The tests work best when a person has a lot of virus in their system and is most likely to be contagious, leading many public health experts to dub them “contagiousness tests.”

The amount of virus in a person’s body can shoot up quickly, so public-health experts often stress that the result is relevant to that specific moment. Many have encouraged people to use the tests before gathering or traveling around the holidays, but to do so right before the event, rather than the day or night before.

10 Key Details 

1. 500 million at-home test kits
2. The tests will be distributed to the public free by mail through a new website
3. No lockdowns
4. Federal emergency response team in six states: Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Arizona, New Hampshire and Vermont. 
5. More pressure on the unvaccinated: The unvaccinated are “looking at a winter of severe illness and death.” 
6. Testing strategy for K-12 students designed to keep children inside classrooms even after exposure to a confirmed Covid-19 case. 
7. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will send 1,000 military medical personnel—including doctors, nurses and paramedics—to hospitals in January and February as needed
8. New federal pop-up testing sites
9. Federal Emergency Management Agency FEMA will assess the needs of hospitals and start expanding hospital bed capacity.
10. FEMA prepared to deploy hundreds of ambulances and medical teams to transport patients to other facilities if a hospital reaches capacity.

Testing at-home is a major and welcome change. 

I recently commented twice about how standing in long lines for hours with people presumed to have Covid was not a good idea. 

No lockdowns is certainly welcome. So is the idea of keeping kids in school.

What about the Vaccine mandate?

There are no new details but there was an announcement yesterday that Biden Gives Companies a One-Month Extension to Adhere to His Vaccine Mandate

Biden extended his original deadline of Jan. 4 to February 9 requiring vaccinations or tests for employers with 100 or more workers, covering about 84 million people.

5th Court Ruling

On November 15, I noted Appeals Court Blocks Biden’s Vaccine Mandate in a Blistering Rebuke

In a Strong Rebuke, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals blasted Biden’s OSHA vaccine mandate.

Summation of Key Terms Used by the Court

• “Fatally flawed”
• “One-size-fits-all sledgehammer”
• The “one-size-fits-all Mandate” is simultaneously overinclusive and “underinclusive”
• “Immense complexity”
• “It regulates noneconomic inactivity that falls squarely within the States’ police power”
• “True purpose is not to enhance workplace safety, but instead to ramp up vaccine uptake by any means necessary.”

Case Will Hinge on State’s Rights

This case will be decided on the issue of states’ rights.

The 5th circuit court of appeals blasted “It regulates noneconomic inactivity that falls squarely within the States’ police power,” said the 5th court.

I believe the Supreme Court will rule against the administration.

Meanwhile there is much to like in details coming out tonight, especially no more lockdowns and at-home testing.

Thanks for Tuning In!

Like these reports? If so, please Subscribe to MishTalk Email Alerts.

Subscribers get an email alert of each post as they happen.

Read the ones you like and you can unsubscribe at any time.

If you have subscribed and do not get email alerts, please check your spam folder.   

Mish