In their first media briefing in about 6 weeks, officials leading the US COVID-19 response said the nation is making good use of tests and treatments to battle a steady rise driven by the more transmissible BA.2.12.1 subvariant.

They warned, however, that the government needs more funding to get vaccines and treatments ready for potential fall and winter activity.

Funding shortfalls fuel concern

In his first briefing since taking on the role of White House COVID-19 response coordinator, Ashish Jha, MD, said the nation has a high degree of immunity but is experiencing brisk COVID-19 activity driven by "incredibly contagious" subvariants, with the nation's homegrown BA.2.12.1 variant posing a huge challenge.

The United States is now averaging about 100,000 cases a day, which is probably an undercount due to the expanding use of home tests.

One piece of good news is that two developments are poised to make useful impacts, Jha said, which include a new round of free home tests that federal officials launched on Mar 16. So far, 8.5 million households have ordered tests.

Another development is the wider availability of Paxlovid and other COVID-19 treatments, given that pharmacies can now order them directly from the federal government. Jha said Paxlovid prescribing has increased dramatically over the past month, rising fourfold with about 20,000 prescriptions written every day.

However, he said officials are deeply worried that unless Congress approves a $22.5 billion White House funding request, they won't have the tools to protect against COVID-19 rises that could occur in the fall and early winter. Jha said planning is needed for a new generation of vaccines to protect against new variants and that resources are needed to buy doses for all Americans who want them.

He also said the government needs to keep ordering tests and treatments from manufacturers. And though officials have had preliminary talks with vaccine makers about a possible bivalent COVID-19 vaccine, without new funding, the government isn't in a position to start negotiations like other countries have.

"Every week we wait, we fall further behind," Jha said, adding that he is optimistic that lawmakers will come to a funding agreement.

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