we re talking to some folks out here getting tested. some say just as a precaution, just because they wanted to make sure they were safe, others because they re traveling and they need the negative pcr test to travel and others, the one family who said they all tested positive last week, couldn t find a lot of time to get a pcr appointment until this morning. there s frustration across the board when it comes to testing availability here in new jersey. and across the country. we re seeing that across the country as well. but some folks i talked to this morning had to say. i think there should be some more available because i have come here a couple of times, and every time, it s a long line. not that they re not doing good, but have more testing sites. it s hard to say because everything s pretty hit or miss. people want it or they don t. and they don t like being told what to do. i think the available options in places, there seems to be a lot just more available.
authorized tests. we are now able to purchase 500 million at-home rapid tests to be sent to the american people for free. heading into christmas week, americans waited on long lines for covid tests. there were also shortages of at-home kits. in this meeting with governors, the president said his administration has worked to expand testing since it took over in january. though some health officials have criticized the administration for what they say is a late push for sending these free at-home tests. unfortunately we do not have enough tests. this really is something we should have been on top of for months, and i m disappointed that this is where we are as a country right now. the president did acknowledge last week his administration should have moved to increased testing availability two months ago. also in october, the biden administration rejected a proposal from several public health experts for free rapid tests for the holidays, based on what many other countries are alre
substantially in the first couple of weeks and as we get into the middle of january. i ll talk to dr. marty makary about this but first rich edson at the white house this morning. testing really is the white house focus here. they re trying to get the website up so americans can order the at-home tests trying to secure 5 million of those tests. many won t be shipped the earliest until next month well after the holiday season after you have had the surge in covid cases. people having trouble getting tests, waiting in long lines for covid tests, shortages of at-home kits. president biden acknowledged last week his administration should have boosted testing availability two months ago. some health officials criticized the administration for what they say is a late push for free at-home tests. for omicron and delta the administration hasn t done enough on testing and through
on climate and making sure we have long-term policy on health care and subsidy, that is important for american families and we can do together. let me ask you on the pandemic, we heard president biden in the speech layout the plan to get free at-home tests to millions across the country. 10,000 people in your state have been killed alone. washington has not seen the intense spikes here in the northeast so far. how hopeful these tests will reach your state before the spikes happen? is the president doing enough? testing is important. the first cases of covid-19 were here in washington state. we know how important it is to have testing. most important how critical that folks are fully vaccinated. that s the number one thing that folks can do. the president mentioned that. testing availability is important so folks know if early on if they have contracted
have the conditions, they have the response to keep the schools opened. in fact, the president said, we must keep k through 12 opened. thank you very much. let s discuss all this and more with the united states surgeon general dr. vivian murri. dr. murphy, thank you for joining us. as you know, the president says testing isn t a failure, his words. how can he say that when so many americans right now simply can t get their hands on a rapid test, they re standing in long lines outside. we see it in new york city and elsewhere, j you to get tested? wolf, certainly, we need to do more on testing. there have been a series of investments over the last year, actually to enhance testing availability. when we started the year, they actually had zero rapid tests that were approved for moment e home use. we have eight now, into the summer, in fact, the president made an investment of $3 billion and has been using the defense