Three Republican governors and three Democratic governors – including Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer – are forming a coalition to expand the production of rapid COVID-19 tests.
More rapid antigen tests are needed to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, the governors said in a joint press release on Tuesday, Aug. 4.
By grouping together, the six states are demonstrating the level of demand for such tests to private manufacturers and combining their purchasing power to get the job done quicker, per the release.
Rapid tests take 15 to 20 minutes to get results. They’re done with nasal swabs, like regular diagnostic COVID-19 tests.
The regular tests often take a day or two to get results – however some residents report waiting as long as three weeks, due to testing backlogs. The incubation period for the virus is 14 days.
Quicker test results can help detect outbreaks faster and therefore thwart further spread of the virus. It can also help ramp up long-term testing in congregate settings like schools, workplaces and nursing homes, per the news release.
The following six governors are part of the pact – although additional states and cities are expected to join later.
- Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, Republican
- Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, Democrat
- Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, Republican
- Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Democrat
- Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, Republican
- Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, Democrat
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has already authorized rapid tests from private companies Becton Dickinson and Quidel.
The six states are in discussions to buy 500,000 rapid tests for each state from the companies. The Rockefeller Foundation is also part of the pact to help facilitate financing.
“With severe shortages and delays in testing and the federal administration attempting to cut funding for testing, the states are banding together to acquire millions of faster tests to help save lives and slow the spread of COVID-19,” Hogan said in the release.
Besides buying supplies as a group, the coalition is also coordinating on rapid testing policies and protocol.
“I’m hopeful that the president and Congress will follow our lead and work together on a recovery package that includes support for states like ours so we can continue to protect our families,” Whitmer said in the release.
COVID-19 PREVENTION TIPS
In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus.
Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible.
Use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, countertops) and carry hand sanitizer with you when you go into places like stores.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has also issued executive orders requiring people to wear face coverings over their mouth and nose while in public indoor and crowded outdoor spaces. See an explanation of what that means here.
Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.
For more data on COVID-19 in Michigan, visit https://www.mlive.com/coronavirus/data/.
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