The Philadelphia Health Department planned to give away 24,000 rapid COVID-19 tests ahead of the holidays but had to cancel on Wednesday after a high demand for the tests nearly wiped out its supplies.
However, the department had to stop the giveaway after handing out"virtually all" of its rapid tests, a spokesperson said. "COVID-19 testing, especially rapid at-home tests, have been more difficult to secure in recent weeks," a health department spokesperson said."Today, several national pharmacy chains announced that they are limiting purchases of rapid at-home test kits due to their own shortages. These shortages are caused or compounded by unprecedented demand for COVID-19 testing.
A few weeks ago, Philadelphia Health Commissioner Cheryl Bettigole urged people to avoid multi-household in-person holiday gatherings because of rising case numbers. She said that if people planned to go ahead with holiday parties, they should ask guests who feel sick to stay home, try to have outdoor gatherings and ask people to get rapid tests.
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