The United States Sees a Surge in Covid-19 Testing with Delta Variant

In June, both COVID-19 cases and tests in hospitals decreased in the United States. COVID-19 testing, including nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) and antigen tests, has reduced significantly in hospitals in the United States, according to GlobalData. As a result, COVID-19 testing has probably moved to over-the-counter antigen testing at home.

On the other hand, Abbott cut its full-year 2021 guidance on June 1 after reporting a steep drop in demand for COVID-19 testing, rapid tests. Abbott is the top market participant in the United States for COVID-19 testing, according to GlobalData. In addition, according to the CDC, 48.7% of the overall population has been fully vaccinated; thus, a considerable reduction in new cases is expected, as well as COVID-19 testing.

However, comprehensive testing is still required, especially now that the delta variant, a COVID-19 variant discovered in India that is 60 percent more contagious than the original strain, has surpassed the original strain as the most common COVID-19 strain in the United States. In addition, although COVID-19 infection has decreased among those vaccinated, those who have not been vaccinated are still at high risk.

According to the Washington Post, unvaccinated people continue to have high case and death rates, with COVID-19 instances among the unvaccinated being 69 percent higher than national averages, even though COVID-19 cases are dropping in general. In addition, although the number of COVID-19 tests performed in the United States decreased in the first half of 2021, the combination of the delta variant as the significant COVID-19 strain, a plateau in the vaccination rate, and new cases on the rise, according to GlobalData, may result in a resurgence of COVID-19 testing.