Biden Administration Announces More Tests for Schools

The Biden administration says it will up the number of COVID-19 tests it provides to schools. The White House announced on Wednesday that it will begin sending 5 million rapid tests and 5 million lab-based PCR tests to schools each month. Officials say this will double the amount of testing schools were performing in November. This after the administration has already spent $130 billion from the American Rescue Plan meant to keep schools open, plus an additional $10 billion for testing at schools. “The Omicron variant is driving unprecedented demand for testing, so we need to ensure school leaders have the support they need to meet that demand,” White House COVID-⁠19 Response Coordinator Jeff Zients said during a Jan. 12 update. The roughly 350,000 students in Chicago Public Schools returned to the classroom on Wednesday after missing four days of school due to the district’s teachers union voting to suspend …