With a plan in place to mail 30,000 coronavirus test kits, U.S.-based company, EverlyWell, is ready to help Americans determine their health status as it pertains to the global pandemic. According to TIME, the brand will start shipping the tests (priced at $135) beginning March 23. Within three days, the tests go through a process at an FDA-approved laboratory before the consumer learns of their status.
Known for administering at-home lab tests for other ailments like food allergies, cholesterol, and STDs, EverlyWell hopes its kits will allow the U.S. to gather a significant number of those who might be infected with COVID-19. TIME states EverlyWell is the first company to offer these tests straight to consumers.
Julia Cheek, the CEO/founder, said the company wants to reach a “weekly capacity” of administering tests to 250,000 Americans. “Our goal is to continue to refresh capacity but with the global swab shortage we don’t have a confirmed timeline for that yet.” The country is currently testing a vaccine in an effort to quickly find a cure. However, a definite vaccine might not be ready for public use for months.
So how do you get a hand on this test? You’ll be required to “first answering questions about their basic health, symptoms and risk factors for the coronavirus disease.” After that, a telemedicine doctor from PWN Health will need to review your answers before prescribing the test to qualified patients, “based on criteria established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.”
One of the hardest-hit countries, Italy, recently tolled 3,405 deaths as a result of the virus. The number passed the 3,242 tolls of China, the country where the outbreak first occurred. According to CNN, Italy is now the “deadliest center” of the coronavirus. Stateside, there’s over 9,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and upwards of 141 people have died.
