SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts (WGGB/WSHM) — The Biden administration is reinstating its free at-home COVID testing program.
This comes as health authorities prepare for the upcoming respiratory virus season.
Western Mass News spoke with a local pediatrician who says there is no need to worry just yet. Instead, health officials are preparing for the typical surge in cases we will see in the fall.
Starting in late September, every U.S. household will be able to order four COVID-19 home tests.
This is because many regions in the US, especially the West Coast, are seeing an increase in Covid cases.
Western Mass News spoke with John Kelley, a pediatrician at Redwood Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, about the rise in COVID cases.
“There is an increase in Covid cases, we are definitely seeing more of them in our office,” Kelley says.
Dr. Kelley urges people to get the new vaccine.
“There is a certain percentage of people who become seriously ill. But I can never predict who that will be. That’s why we want to get vaccinated,” she explains.
Since many students are going back to school, he is observing more upper respiratory tract infections in his practice, but he also expects more Covid cases.
“I think part of that mix is going to be Covid, we’re going to see more Covid because it’s out there and two of our employees contracted Covid this week,” Kelley adds.
The FDA has announced the latest vaccines to combat the new strains of COVID-19, which will be available to the public in the next few weeks.
Dr. Kelley reminds parents to get their children vaccinated against Covid-19 and that the flu shot is equally important to prevent future illness.
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