Aflevering A Covid Testing Crisis, Again

By the end of last year, if you needed a coronavirus test, you could get one. But when vaccines arrived, focus shifted. Many of the vaccinated felt like they didn’t need tests and demand took a nosedive. Testing sites were closed or converted into vaccination sites. And Abbott Laboratories, a major test manufacturer, wound up destroying millions. However, with the surge of the new Omicron variant, which is less susceptible to vaccines, demand for testing is back — and it is outstripping supply. Guest: Sheryl Gay Stolberg, a Washington correspondent, covering health policy for The New York Times. Sign up here to get The Daily in your inbox each morning. And for an exclusive look at how the biggest stories on our show come together, subscribe to our newsletter.  Background reading:  - President Biden came into office vowing to make coronavirus testing cheap and accessible, but matching supply with demand has been a persistent problem. For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.