HHS posts states’ COVID-19 testing plans for second half of year

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) posted the COVID-19 Testing Plans from all states and localities for July through December on its website.

The State Testing Plans were developed in partnership with the federal government for each jurisdiction. The plans include details on responding to surges in cases and reaching vulnerable populations, including minorities, immunocompromised individuals, and older adults.

“Testing is not just about overall numbers – it is about making sure we’re testing the right people at the right time and incorporating testing into a comprehensive plan for addressing COVID-19,” HHS Assistant Secretary for Health ADM Brett Giroir said. “These state plans, along with ongoing and intensive technical assistance, provided by HHS inform what level of federal support each state requires to successfully execute SARS-CoV-2 testing priorities.”

Each state plan must include target numbers of tests per month, as outlined in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases (ELC) guidance document.

To meet the testing targets for each state, the federal government has been procuring and distributing certain testing supplies that are in short supply—namely, swabs and transport media—to each state and territory. The administration will continue to work to meet all needs outlined in the state testing plans.

In May, the CDC awarded a total of $10.25 billion to states, territories, and localities to help implement the goals of each jurisdiction’s testing plan.

“Testing plans and their implementation are a critical component of our efforts to contain COVID-19. Our state testing strategy sets measurable goals that allow us to work across sectors to understand the prevalence of disease, protect vulnerable communities and adjust our efforts to respond to this unprecedented pandemic,” Dr. John Wiesman, Washington State Secretary of Health, said.

All state testing plans have been posted on the HHS’s website.