Covid US: $30bn Biden plan includes Free anti-viral pills, MORE tests and $5bn for vaccines abroad

The White House on Wednesday unveiled a new $30 billion Covid-19 plan that is meant to leave the nation prepared for future outbreaks so that ‘Americans no longer fear lockdowns.’

The new blueprint focuses on four pillars: protecting against current infections, preparing for new variants, preventing shutdowns and doling out vaccines abroad. 

It comes one day after the White House rolled back its mask requirement on the heels of new CDC guidelines that say those in areas of low to medium transmission can go maskless.  

The plan, which will require additional funding from Congress includes steps to vaccinate children under 5 once the FDA approves a jab for them, to increase manufacturing capacity of vaccines to 1 billion per year, build up the supply of treatments like anti-viral pills and launch a ‘test to treat’ program.  

The test to treat program would allow those who believe they have been infected to get a free Covid-19 test at clinics and pharmacies and if it is positive be offered free treatments on the spot.

It also calls for the U.S. to spend $5 billion to finish off its commitment to donate 1.2 billion vaccine doses to foreign nations. So far the U.S. has doled out 475 million doses around the world. 

And in a section on preparedness for new variants, the plan proposes a stockpile of masks in addition to at-home tests, vaccines and treatments. 

The plan also calls for Congress to enact a paid sick leave program. It calls for funding for schools to improve their ventilation systems and giving schools testing kits and other supplies. 

It includes a new EPA checklist to to improve ventilation for clean air in all buildings, White House coronavirus coordinator Jeff Zients said.  

Biden during his State of the Union address on Tuesday struck a message of hope in moving beyond Covid-19 precautions, as he underscored the importance of keeping kids in schools

Health and Human Services Sec. Xavier Becerra said that so far the U.S. has distributed 690 million doses of vaccines, 4 million treatments, more than 270 million free N95s and free COVID-19 tests to 70 million households. 

Zients also said that those who placed an order for free at-home Covid-19 tests through Covidtests.gov will be able to place another order next week for a second round of tests. 

The Biden administration faced backlash over its slow rollout of free at-home tests at the height of the Omicron variant. Many received their free tests from the government weeks after their community had passed the variant’s peak.

So far, only half of the 500 million tests available have been claimed.  

And in addition funding the development of new anti-viral medications, Becerra said a key part of the plan seeks to address the symptoms of ‘long Covid’ reported by many across the country. 

Efforts to fight new variants will include greater data collection capability and expedited review of variant-specific vaccines and treatments.  

The Biden administration said that next week Americans will be able to order their second round of free Covid-19 tests 

The Biden administration has requested $5 billion to dole out vaccines abroad 

The administration last month requested $30 billion from Congress to fight Covid-19 here at home and an additional $5 billion to fight the virus abroad by doling out vaccines and PPE. 

Biden during his State of the Union address on Tuesday struck a message of hope in moving beyond Covid-19 precautions, as he underscored the importance of keeping kids in schools.  

‘We can end the shutdown of schools and businesses. We have the tools we need. It’s time for Americans to get back to work and fill our great downtowns again,’ said Biden.

‘People working from home can feel safe to begin to return to the office. We’re doing that here in the federal government. The vast majority of federal workers will once again work in person. Our schools are open. Let’s keep it that way. Our kids need to be in school,’ he added.