Washington state orders 5.5 million at-home tests for public

By RACHEL LA CORTE
Associated Press

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Washington state has ordered 5.5 million at-home tests to distribute to the public and will improve booster vaccine access and supply about 10 million free protective masks amid a steep increase in COVID-19 cases due to the more contagious omicron variant. Gov. Jay Inslee’s office says the state has already received 800,000 of the tests ordered from manufacturers this week, and that another 4.7 million are expected to arrive by next week. Those tests will be distributed in various ways, including through a web portal that is expected to become available in the coming weeks so that families can order tests directly to their homes at no cost. Tests will also be sent directly to schools and local health departments to be distributed to underserved communities.