Washington D.C. 19 January 2022 (PAHO) – With COVID-19 surging throughout the Americas and demand for diagnostics higher than ever, the Pan American Health Organization Director Carissa F. Etienne has called on countries to prioritize rapid antigen tests for those with symptoms – who are most at risk of spreading the disease.



With 7.2 million new COVID cases reported in the region over the past week, countries must “expand testing at the community level to relieve pressure on hospitals, which are working overtime,” she said during a media briefing today.