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Virginia today joined with five other states to negotiate the planned purchase of 500,000 rapid COVID-19 antigen tests apiece from Becton Dickinson and Quidel, the U.S. manufacturers of FDA-approved rapid tests. The other states are Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan and Ohio; additional states, cities, and local governments may join the compact in the coming weeks.
Governors of the six states signed an agreement with the Rockefeller Foundation, a science-driven philanthropic organization that collaborates with a variety of partners. The announcement is the first interstate testing compact of its kind among governors during the COVID-19 pandemic.
By joining together, the states are demonstrating to private manufacturers that there is significant demand to scale up the production of rapid tests, according to Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam.
“The states are leading America’s national response to COVID-19,” said Northam. “We are bringing together this bipartisan, multi-state coalition to combine our purchasing power and get rapid testing supplies to our communities as quickly as possible. The people in our six states want to see action, and together, we’re delivering.”
The cooperative purchasing agreement will provide a platform for each state to purchase tests and associated supplies in a sustainable and cost-effective way, according to Northam. The states will coordinate on policies and protocols regarding rapid antigen testing technology. The Rockefeller Foundation will assist in facilitating financing mechanisms to support this large-scale interstate testing compact.
“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,” said Maryland Governor Larry Hogan. “I want to thank my fellow governors for signing on to this groundbreaking bipartisan agreement, which we have just finalized after weeks of discussions with the Rockefeller Foundation. We will be working to bring additional states, cities, and local governments on board as this initiative moves forward.”
In a statement last month, Rockefeller Foundation officials called for a total of 30 million weekly COVID tests nationwide within the next three months – 5 million diagnostic tests (of people with symptoms) and 25 million screening tests (of those who are asymptomatic).
“If professional baseball and basketball players can get routine tests, so should our teachers, students, nurses, and bus drivers – in short, America’s essential workers,” said Dr. Jonathan Quick, managing director of pandemic response, preparedness and prevention for The Rockefeller Foundation. “This plan will require significant investment from the government, but investing in these tests will be far less costly for the nation than another economic shutdown, which will happen if we don’t contain the outbreaks.”
Said Rockefeller Foundation President Rajiv Shah: “We are committed to helping communities across America avoid the tragic consequences of this disease by expanding the use of the latest diagnostic and screening tests so those unwittingly spreading COVID can be isolated and supported.”
